#・ ˖ ✦ ⋄ . Drabbles. ❝ My mama always told me that I’d make it ❞【Hope Mikaelson】

[ofmikaelsonshope]

A dead husband, stone-cold no chances of coming back husband of three of her children. It felt worse this time seeing him dead on the ground because this time he wasn’t coming back to her, always and forever no longer is there and the ring on her finger right below a tattoo of her husband’s name wrapped around her finger mocks her every time she sees it in passing movements like opening a door for someone when they get home or grabbing water even. It’s nightfall by the time everyone gets back and it is giving Andi to her parents, expressed milk in the fridge and freezer for them to use and Addy curled into her side in a big bed that is too lonely for just her. Stomach hurting at first had been since the moment that her husband died but being so tired from a release of magic throughout the building had been another thing to make laying there and dozing in and out of sleep.

Two hours pass before she is pulling away from her daughter to make a beeline for the bathroom and finds herself once again on her knees in front of a porcelain bowl throwing up next to nothing, fingers grabbing fabric and ripping it straight open until her t-shirt is draping from her shoulders and she is quick to throw it toward a corner, head still hung over the bowl.

Cold fingers though are what catch her attention and when she looks to the side, she realizes that she isn’t alone in her now locked bathroom. “Seylah.” A sigh of relief, someone that would feel just as much pain as her right now and it is sick to feel relief over this. Over knowing Landon’s mother is going to hurt too.

“You are most likely hot,” Seylah tells her, the smell of cooper thick in the air already and it would only get worse, she can already guess that much. The fact she woke when this...teen or adult (time is a funny thing when you are dead) was ripping off her shirt. It’s a hand reaching over and flushing the toilet before reaching out and helping her son’s girlfriend into a better position on the floor. “Lift your hips...let’s take these jeans off. Should cool you for a second.” Hope groans, hips shifting up and she hissed and somewhere between the older phoenix pulling undoing the button and pulling the jeans down, it becomes clearer when she sees it, blood and she laughs hard because it must be an early period, hers had been late but she assumed it was stress of having a new baby that did it. “Must have forgotten about it this month...stress, you know?” Telling her wouldn’t help, letting it dawn on her would do better. It is quick thinking to discard the jeans, get two rags before sitting down next to her, back leaning against the tub, legs spreading a little. “Come,, lean into me.” Seylah motions for her to come on over. 

Hope does just that, finding comfort in the arms of the mother that gave birth to the best man she ever knew. It’s blue eyes closing and for a good ten minutes, she sits there staring at a wall, her mother-in-law’s fingers working out knots in her stomach so gently it is hard to believe that she has killed supernaturals just because of them being monsters. “Landon’s dead.” she whispers. “My husband is dead.” Seylah closes her eyes, body shaking and she is shocked that no scream comes out, just tears. Her son is dead and his...wife was having a baby, what she assumed was their first. Holding a killer in her arms, a monster like the ones she hunted for years and crying with her over the loss of someone great, someone that she hadn’t wanted to give up but did what was best. Triad would never tolerate her having a kid, not killing it the moment it was born based on the fact it was born from a pit of tar. How she had hated her child until she saw him and his heat so strong her skin was pink even though she didn’t feel it. It had been one of those things that started to feel more supernatural and not a gift. She used to think not feeling the heat of a stove was a gift but after holding her kid she realized it was a supernatural gift. Spending years hunting monsters only to find out you are one, Selyah laughed until she cried in an abandoned building, a newborn in her arms. 

Hope finds comfort in the phoenix’s body shaking, how cruel it is that she does and heat comes from the other’s skin until her skin is a shade of pink and she knows why even as she pulls away long enough to give the mother time to cool down. An hour passes of laying there, on the cool floor waiting before Seylah is pulling her into her arms again. It’s then, the tiredness of staying up that she falls asleep.

Seylah holds her, not feeling an ounce tired even when things got boring she stayed because she knew what would come and sure enough, maybe two hours after the other passed out, she is waking up, gasping for air as fingernails dig into the forearms of Seylah’s, wolf nails causing blood to spill onto the bathroom floor. It’s a piercing scream, one that hurts the phoenix’s ears.

Fire, a fire so strong that she is pulled under, the heat so bad that she swears she might die. Can you inhale smoke without actually being in a smokey room? Lungs burn, tries so hot they leave her skin red and blistered as they fall down her cheeks. Landon and she had spelled the room so no one could hear them after they discovered bathtubs are a lot of fun. 

Thirty minutes of pure torture, fighting every second because she is so alone without actually being alone that what could have taken five to ten minutes took a lot longer. Her breathing harsh and she cries until there is nothing left to cry for now, her body so weak. The moment it was passed, Seylah is putting the plug in the bath and helping her off with her clothes, Using her ability to turn things to ash with a lot of control to make the bloody clothes turn into just a mess to be swept up. Water cool to the couch when she helps her daughter in law into the water, watching as she sighs in relief. “My son is dead but that doesn’t mean you are alone....I’m not leaving you. You are family,” Seylah whispers out pushing a piece of hair out of the other’s face. “Just sit there in the tub and let me clean up in here. Do you have a little dustpan?”

Eyes closed, she manages to nod toward the sink. “Under the sink.” Silence in the air as she opens her eyes, letting the water out when it wasn’t cool anymore and starting all over (It happened fast given her body temperature was working its way back down). She’s pregnant...a widow...a mom of three going to be four all under the age of seven years old. Never once had she done a whole pregnancy without him, Addy came close but with Andi, he had been there the whole time and well, Ellie wasn’t biologically her child so she can’t compare there. “I’m pregnant...” and my husband never knew. God, she could have really dug into him about this being the second time they ended up Irish twining this, a joke now that she accepted Ellie as hers and watch him laugh. How he would have been excited and scared and all different emotions because it means she will die again.

“I know,” Seylah said from her position sweeping ash into the pan and throwing it into the little trash can beside the toilet. It’s then working on getting the blood cleaned up, the tribrid beside her using magic (clearly) to help bring the blood up easier. “We will get you all tucked into bed and tomorrow, we will deal with whatever comes out way.” After a long bath, Seylah helps a naked tribrid to her room, only to see two sleeping kids in the middle of a very large bed, must be a custom made one given it could most likely fit two kids and two adults in it. “Who are they?” “Adelina Hope Mikaelson-Kirby, Elizabeth Olive Mikaelson-Kirby,” Hope tells her finding clothes, looking at the clock and not surprised that in two hours the kids would be up wanting breakfast. “your grandkids.” 

[ text : Everyone: Hope’s phone ] –– so everyone Seylah is alive and well. [ text : Everyone: Hope’s phone ] –– if some strange lady is sitting at your table in the morning don’t shoot...or bite...It’s Landon’s mom [ text : Everyone: Hope’s phone ] –– She came back in the middle of the night. Not sure which kid did it.

“They are beautiful,” Seylah tells her. “Twins?” And she notes the baby crib across the room but when she goes to look in, she sees no little person in there. “So did you leave this up for decoration?”

Hope looks over her shoulder and laughs softly, “Uh, no...there is also, Andrea...Andrea Seylah Mikaelson-Kirby, she’s only a few months old. My parents took her for the night.” “See you and my son were very busy,” Seylah comments, not really thinking about it. twins, a baby that was new and one on the way, her son surely didn’t know how to work protection but she can’t fault him for that given he is dead and well if his wife allowed it isn’t something Seylah should stick her nose into.

Hope shakes her head. “Yeah, I guess...we kind of where.” But she gets the feeling that was a one-off comment with Seylah, never to speak about sex again aside from now.

“You should get some sleep,” Seylah tells her. “I will be up with the kids,...if you would allow?” 

Crawling into bed, her daughters scooting closer to her in bed, she finds herself warm again. “That would be nice....thank you..” It’s feeling the covers being pulled over her body and it is the last thing she actually remembers that that horrible day.

[areihachi]

sea you later

cw: armin consoling his daughter

an: i LOVE the thought of armin being a girl dad it makes me so mushy just imagining it—i’ve had hc’s and drabbles in my mind for months and i finally gave in and wrote something,, this made me so soft so i hope u enjoy!! p.s i’d totally give him all the kids he wanted.

“but papa i don’t want you to leave!”

“mama tell papa he has to stay for us!”

her voice cracking as she looked up at you both—her lips in a pout, tears welling up in her eyes. the look on her face was enough to make both your hearts shatter into millions of pieces.

armin dreaded this. dreaded the idea of having to leave his beloved family. his child being too young to understand the reasons for his departure. his biggest fear was her thinking the worst about him and that he was abandoning you both, when in actuality he was just leaving for a few days.

as commander he was often called when strategic regrouping was needed, but due to armin’s service in the scouts he was able to avoid leaving his cozy home with you for the first four years of your daughter’s life.

so now here he is swaddled in bed with you and his baby as you both try to stop the sobs leaving her mouth. armin’s thoughts were speeding a mile a minute thinking about how he could flip the situation around. he always was very strategic, a quality of his you loved to see him apply to his parenting.

he quickly jumped out of bed and went to your daughter’s toy bin, your daughter peering down at him on the floor as he she wiped away some of the snot that had gathered on her upper lip—you holding her free hand as she did so.

“hmm here we go.” armin softly smiled to himself before settling back with the two of you.

by this time, your daughter’s tears had began to dry up. her sniffles muffled as she clung onto you, desperate to hold onto anything to prevent herself from crying again.

“hey seashell ?”

instantly your daughter’s head shot up, the nickname armin called her bringing her back to reality.

she looked at him with pure adoration. she loved her papa to the moon and back which is why the news of him leaving for a few days devastated her.

armin pat his lap motioning for her to crawl over to him which she obliged. you scooted over as armin pulled you closer to him. the three of you were cozy under the light of the lamp on your daughter’s night stand. you couldn’t help but melt at how gorgeous your baby and your husband looked. the light illuminating your daughter’s features—the same exact one’s she stole from armin had you softly chuckling. there was no denying it—that was armin’s seashell.

“i want to tell you a story.” armin spoke as he looked down to his now calmed daughter—the warmth and closeness stemming from you both was all it needed to relax her.

“but papa you don’t have a book!” she pouted looking up at him—his blue eyes meeting hers.

“what a great observation!” he gently patted her head and chuckled as he reached down to the floor, his hand bringing up various homemade stuffed animals that she had received over the years.

armin looked over to you with nothing but love in his eyes, just wanting to check in on his love. he smiled at you and you smiled back—these smiles quickly turning to small giggles as your daughter looked up at you both wondering when this story she was told about would begin. she always loved a good story, especially when she was surrounded by the two people she held dearest to her heart.

armin reached behind his back, pulling out three furry friends. there was a mama bear, papa bear, and a baby bear. your daughter’s face lit up immediately. it was that smile on her face that he lived for. it made his heart melt every time. in his eyes she had your smile and he’d do anything to make sure you both were happy.

“that’s mama!” she said pointing at the mama bear and then turning to squeeze your hand. “and that’s you.” she said as she jumped up and down placing her small frame over her father’s chest.

“yes that’s right!” armin said smiling at her.

“and who’s this?” he asked looking up at his daughter, the baby bear held in front of her.

her arm was now around his neck and you couldn’t help but chuckle seeing his smushed and blushed face as your daughter jumped up and down.

“that’s me!” she said as she jumped back down. laying on his lap, her legs resting on you so she could look up at you both. she smiled up at him before reaching to grab the stuffed bear, holding it close to her chest.

he nodded his head and bent down to place a kiss on his seashell’s forehead, gently removing her curls from her face so he could mentally capture the image of his two favorite girls before departure in a few hours.

he held the papa bear in his hand, passing you the mama bear. he held his bear’s legs having it walk over to yours, your daughter watching intently as he did so—mind wondering what would happen next.

“hellooo dear.” he spoke, altering his voice to make it deeper, causing your daughter to burst out laughing, her sweet laugh echoing through out the walls of your cozy home.

“hello love.” you responded, making your voice go higher in pitch. you and armin’s bears were face to face and it was now armin’s move so he did the one thing he knew he could to make your daughter react. he lifted his bear’s arms and placed them on your bears face before having them kiss.

“EWWW.” your daughter said clasping her eyes laughing at the kissing sounds you and armin began making.

“oh but dear where is our beloved baby bear?” armin —papa bear questioned.

“hm i haven’t a clue… shall we go look for her?” you added, having your bear walk around the air pondering in circles, it’s paw on the side of its face i deep thought.

your daughter grew quiet, her baby bear now tucked safely in the crook of her arm in an attempt to make the search for baby bear longer.

“papa bear where do you think our baby has gone?”

“no clue but we need to find her soon it’s her turn for kisses.” he said, a pout evident in his voice.

for the next minute, both you and armin walked your bears around the room. both of you calling out “baby bear where are youu?” the change in your voices causing your own baby bear to laugh.

you and armin’s bears faced each other and in unison asked “did you hear that?” before making a dash back to the bed. your daughter couldn’t even process what was happening because the next thing she knew she was getting tickled and kissed on her sweet face by the both of you, which only caused her to laugh more and more.

and you three all stayed like this. relishing in each other’s presence. it wasn’t until your daughter began to rub her eyes. she was fighting to stay awake.

she knew that if she fell asleep it would mean she’d wake up to her papa being gone. she knew it—you and armin both knew it, which is why armin had wanted to make tonight memorable and happy for you both.

“hey seashell?

armin’s seashell had both her sleepy eyes on his gentle face, using all she could to stay awake. his voice was soft and gentle like a lullaby lulling her to sleep.

“you know i love you—don’t you my little seashell?”

she sleepily nodded on her father’s chest. the voice of her papa felt like a warm blanket that would lead to a deep sleep if she held on just a little longer.

armin knew it was selfish of him to hope his words would be the ones to lull his baby to sleep, and not the eloquent words of some author of a book that he often would read to both you and her—but he couldn’t help it.

“what do ya say—you, mama and me go the the beach when i get back hmm?” he was rubbing soothing circles up her back. she was too tired to reply, in a competitive fight against sleep, with sleep winning.

just listening to her father’s soothing voice and the comfort of your warm body squished to hers was enough to finally give into sleep.

her papa’s words of the beach being the last thing she heard.

and she dreamt, she dreamt of her favorite place with her two favorite people at the sea. toes in the water, walking together hand in hand on the sand.

and when she woke up she was too happy from the memories of the night before to even be upset about her father’s absence.

her mind was full of the day at the beach you’d all have once he gets back. it was what she held onto during the long days her papa was gone.

[yespolkadotkitty]

Open Up

A GFS server drabble. We do these every month!

Words: 700 ~ Pairing: Stephen Holder x fem!reader ~ Content: swears, mentions of marriage breakdowns

---

“Yo, mama. Open up. I know you’re in there.”

You close your eyes at the sound of Stephen’s voice interspersed with pounding on the front door of your studio apartment.

You burrow deeper into your bedding, hoping he’ll give up.

You know it’s been four days. You would normally have swapped over a hundred messages by now, but you can’t face him. Not today and maybe not ever again.

“Yo! I need to see you! Please,” he adds.

It’s the please that finally breaks you. You can’t leave him standing there wondering if you’re dead, wondering if your cat Norman is eating your eyeballs.

(Norman would never. He only eats gourmet cat food).

You pad over to the door, look through the peephole.

Stephen looks like shit. You wonder if he’s even slept. His hair is mussed, looks as if he’s been dragging his fingers through it.

Your heart clenches at the tired, strung-out look on his handsome face, and the wrinkled fabric of his trusty hoodie.

You open the door, catching him with his fist raised, about to knock again.

“Jesus! I thought you were dead or somethin’!” He grabs you, pulling you into a hard hug, and you breathe him in and it’s perfect and oh God you missed him.

“Sorry,” you mumble.

He sighs into your hair and he smells of his last cigarette and cheap minty bodywash. Holder. You need him like you need air. Maybe it’s time you finally admitted that to yourself.

Something buts against your leg and you look down. Stephen does too.

“Oh, hey Norms,” he mutters.

The cat meows and then saunters back into your apartment.

“Come in,” you tell Stephen. “Drink?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

The door swings shut behind you both. Stephen rubs a hand over his face. “You gonna tell me why you ain’t answerin’ your phone?”

“Do I have to?” you ask weakly.

“Yeah. You do have to. You owe me that much. We had that one amazin’ night, baby - blew my fuckin’ mind, and then…. You just ghost me.”

“I’m sorry.” You hug yourself, and then hold out your hand. When Stephen takes it, you lead him to the couch, pull him down next to you.

He glances at you, huffs, then finally begins, “Why are you avoiding me?”

“Because…” You bite your lip. “Because I think I’m falling in love with you, okay?”

His brows shoot up. “And that’s a reason to not see me?”

“Yeah.”

He waits for you to elaborate.

“My parents’ marriage was a mess. They were always in and out of each other’s pockets. They had so many fights. My mother’s subsequent relationships were toxic too. But the whole time she insisted she was in love. So love is bad. I mean, for me, anyway. What if I’m just like her? So I got scared. Of changing us.”

Stephen looks at you for a long time. You start to wonder if it’s over, if you’ve ruined it by opening up.

Then he cups your face, very gently, and kisses you.

“We all got baggage. You know? Fact of it is, I’d rather have you with a shit-load of baggage than not have you at all. That shit makes you who you are. You know?”

His words are so soft and sincere that tears well up. You lean into him, and he cuddles you close.

“Did you mean it, baby girl?” he asks. “Falling in love?”

“Yeah.”

“Me, too,” he murmurs, dropping a kiss on your hair. “I think I love you. Maybe I always have. Ever since you told me to shut my mouth that first day in the break room. Don’t make me live without your smart mouth and your sexy smile. Okay?”

“Okay,” you agree.

And then he kisses you and you sink into his embrace, and you have your best friend back, only he’s so much more, now.

----

Thanking my babe @loverhymeswith for the beta!

Holder Tags: @11thstreetvigilante @a-reader-and-a-writer @heresathreebee @skvatnavle @spooky-ghosts @babblydrabbly @nerdysuperchick @reysorigins-archive @greymoonfeelings @fairchildflag @madkovacs @lacontroller1991 @bewitchedignition @marvelousmermaid @klmurr

[vennilavee]

sunkissed

pairing: levi x reader (moon/stars universe) ft kaiya and rina

summary: rina peach's beachy birthday weekend!!

warnings: none at all, just a cute summer drabble

word count: 1810

Kaiya has never been very fond of the beach. She is very much like Levi in that sense- they both would prefer to either stay home or go to the park rather than allow the potential for sand to hide in the crevices of their bodies. After all, seagulls are a nuisance and it’s not like you can even see animals other than those pesky birds.

At least according to Kaiya’s speech about why she did not want to go to the beach last weekend. But it was Rina’s birthday, and unlike her older sister…. Rina loves the beach. She loves poking her feet in her sand and feeling the salty ocean water brush over her chubby legs. Her specialty is building sandcastles and she had sneakily asked if she could bury her daddy in the sand.

To which you had said maybe. And Levi had sent you a sneaky glare.

You can vividly remember the first time you brought baby Kaiya to the beach. She’d been a year old, after you and Levi had done extensive research on what sunscreen would be best for Kaiya. She looked so cute that day, in a bright orange bucket hat with blue starfish on it, a blue swimsuit and tiny orange crocs.

It took you nearly fifteen minutes to get out of the house, because you were too busy showering her with kisses and taking photos of her first beach day.

While she had been all smiles on the way to the beach, her expression had quickly turned sour when you had tried putting her feet in the water. Her lips parted ever so slightly to let out a stream of wails and her eyes leaked tears. She was trying her best to avoid her feet touching the water with all of her tiny might.

Kaiya hated the sand even more, if that was possible. She glared at the sand stuck in between her toes and Levi had only looked smugly at you. As if to say ‘I told you so’.

And he had.

But today, Rina is tugging Kaiya’s hand impatiently, wanting to splash around in the water with her big sister. Kaiya is hesitant, warily eyeing the water and looking at Levi and then Rina.

“Oh, fine,” Kaiya sighs, “Only for five minutes.”

“Yay!” Rina cheers and does a little dance before running off towards the water (with Kaiya and Levi on her heels).

You can’t help but watch Levi’s golden skin glisten in the sun as he gets farther away from you. His shoulders flex as he jogs after his girls, and you sigh happily before rubbing sunscreen on your arms.

You had rubbed sunscreen into Rina’s skin while Kaiya had insisted on doing it herself. Levi had wordlessly asked you to rub his back, which you had gladly done.

But not before squeezing his bicep indulgently, because damn, your man looks good.

You brought a book with you to read (and Kaiya had as well. She had stated firmly that she plans to read on the beach during this weekend trip.)

Your gaze travels from your book to immediately zero in on the girls and Levi from the tops of your sunglasses. Rina’s giggles are contagious and filter through the salty breeze, tucking away in your eardrum and you can pretty much hear Kaiya grumbling from all the way out here.

Setting your book aside, you decide to join your family in the water. You adjust your baby blue swimsuit, making sure all of your bits are covered, and make your way over. Your jumbo sized umbrella, beach towels and cooler are close enough that you can keep an eye on it from the water.

“Mama! You come,” Rina beams, reaching for you from Levi’s arms.

“I did, peach,” you reply, scooping her up. She’s getting so big, she’s already four. Rina is no longer the small baby who used to waddle around the house clumsily, she’s now old enough to run through the water and splash her older sister.

Levi pecks your lips in greeting while Kaiya dramatically gags.

“On Rina’s birthday weekend? Ugh, gross,” Kaiya rolls her eyes. Levi splashes her playfully with his foot and Kaiya gasps.

“Wow, watch out, daddy.”

“Ya, daddy, watch out! Watch out!”

“Oh, alright. I surrender,” Levi says, holding his hands up.

“It’s nice out here, isn’t it?” you murmur, nudging Kaiya’s shoulder. She tries to scowl, but she can’t hide her smile from you.

“Yeah, it’s nice. I guess.”

“Oh, you guess? How lucky for us,” Levi teases, ruffling her head of dark hair.

“Daddy! I did my hair and you’re making it messy!” Kaiya pouts, messing her hair up again.

“It not messy!” Rina protests, “It nice!”

Kaiya gives her a toothy smile in response, to which Rina mimics.

“Mama, can we have some drinks? You brought those peach ones, right?” Kaiya asks with hopeful eyes.

“Of course I did. You think I’d forget?”

You and Levi had taken extra measures to hide the cake that you both had baked for Rina’s birthday in the mini-fridge of the cottage that you were staying in for the weekend. In fact, it was Kuchel’s little cottage by the sea- Levi came here as a teenager and a young adult. And you can remember the first time he brought you here, too.

Kuchel will be arriving tomorrow to join the celebration, but tonight it was just your little family.

“Kiki,” you whisper from the corner of the kitchen, “Kaiya. Kaiya!”

“Yes, mama?” she whispers back.

“Will you please get Rina and your daddy and bring them outside to the deck? The cake is ready,” you reply and Kaiya nods, running off to find her sister and her dad.

The small deck has been decorated with shell themed balloons and streamers of gold and green (Rina’s current favorite colors) in the last two hours, while she was napping and while Levi had kept her entertained before that. You can hear her peals of laughter approaching closer and closer and you make sure to have your phone ready when she sees the setup you and Levi created for her-

And she gasps with wide eyes before squealing happily and running around the table decorated with teal lace to stare at the carefully curated mermaid themed cake that took hours for you to finish up.

“Mermaid! For my birfday, mommy?” Rina gasps, bouncing on the heels of her feet.

“Happy birthday, Peachy,” you beam at her and kneel for her to run into your arms for a big hug.

“Thank, mama,” Rina says, “Daddy, Kaiya! Wook cake! Come hug!”

She’s always been very affectionate. Levi says she gets it from you.

“Happy birthday, Rina Peach,” Levi murmurs, kissing her hair, “I’m so happy that you’re happy and healthy.”

Rina only looks at him with your eyes.

“Happy birthday, Peachy peach,” Kaiya says, jumping with her, “We gotta sing Happy Birthday! And then you blow out your candles and make a wish!”

“Make wish! Make wish!” Rina says excitedly, her dark hair shining with the sunset. Kaiya leads the charge in Rina’s birthday songs while Rina smiles brightly at you and Levi. It brings a few tears to your eyes and Levi tugs your fingers in his subtly.

Your girls are getting so big. Levi still remembers when Rina barely fit in the palm of his hands, when she came into the world so quietly. When fear filled his heart.

Seeing Rina blowing out her candles (with some help from Kaiya) makes his heart warm. Kaiya is getting so tall- he can tell she might be taller than him someday soon. Kaiya’s eyes glisten and shine, reflecting bits of his own steel grey when she looks at him.

He’s feeling contemplative. You can tell.

Once you finish with your pictures of everyone, Levi cuts slices of cake for everyone to eat. Rina most definitely stuck her fingers into her slice of cake but now, she is seated in his lap as she tries to feed herself (but ultimately leans back against his chest for him to feed her). Kaiya sits in between you and Levi.

It’s quiet, the sound of the waves against the shore vibrating around you as the close of Rina’s birthday draws close. The summer breeze drifts into your hair and you spot goosebumps on Kaiya’s arms.

“Gonna get some blankets, my little fruits. Be right back,” you murmur, patting her leg.

“Hey! I’m not a fruit!”

By now, the moon is shining brightly in the night sky and the stars along with it, and Rina is fast asleep in Levi’s lap while Kaiya is laying across your lap with tired eyes. You’ve all moved inside the cottage once the summer chill settled in to watch a movie.

Rest assured, you’re dozing off, too.

You hear Levi call your name. You hum in response and open your eyes blearily. It appears you’ve been asleep for longer than expected, because Kaiya is no longer in your lap and Rina is not in Levi’s arms.

“I put the girls to bed,” Levi murmurs, “C’mon. Let’s get to bed.”

“You gonna carry me or what?” you joke, but before you can get your feet on the floor, he scoops you up in his arms and pecks your forehead.

“How romantic,” you murmur, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Yeah, alright,” Levi rolls his eyes.

“Did you check the locks?”

“What do you take me for? An idiot?”

“I’m just making sure, okay-”

“Yeah, yeah,” you murmur, patting his cheek adoringly, “Hurry, I’m tired and my feet ache.”

“How lucky for me.”

“The girls had fun today,” you murmur, rubbing lazy circles over Levi’s chest, “Did you?”

Levi hums, fingers trailing up and down your arm tiredly. “I like the sea, despite what you think.”

“You don’t like the beach. You hate finding sand in your-”

“Yeah, I hate the beach, but the sea is nice.”

You chuckle, pressing your lips to his throat.

“I’m surprised Peach went to bed so quickly. But she must be tired from running around in the sun with Kaiya all day,” Levi muses.

“Probably. Your mom can run around with Rina and Kaiya tomorrow at the beach. We should do boozy brunch in the meantime.”

“Why? So you can get drunk off your ass from two mimosas while your daughters are in the ocean?”

“Okay, first of all, that was a joke. Second of all, two mimosas? You think that much of me?”

“Am I wrong?”

“I’m going to sleep,” you huff dramatically, “Give me a kiss goodnight.”

Levi gives you a little more than a kiss goodnight when he pecks your lips, licking into your wet, warm mouth until your eyes flutter shut and he presses himself on top of you to envelop you in his embrace.

tags: @simpingmaize @kentobean @captainchrisstan @alrightberries @celestidarling @regalillegal @castellandiangelo @bakuhoesworld

[blossom-hwa]

You Look So Lovely, Darling (I’ll Love You for Lifetimes) - |BaL|

Kinda feels weird to be writing the proposal scene so early, but like? This drabble series is all out of order so whatever lmao :) enjoy some sweet nervous channie who just wants his proposal to be perfect <3

(and again, thanks to @deathbykpopboys​ for helping me work out this scene!! I LITERALLY owe you the world if you ever have ANY requests I'll be willing to write them :D)

Pairing: Chan x fem!reader

Genre: fluff, slice of life, single parent!au

Triggers: cursing

Word Count: 2.9k

Chan just wants to give you a picture perfect proposal - why is that so hard?

SKZ Masterlist | Breathe, and Live | Touching Stars (TBZ teacher!au)

Proposing, Chan comes to learn, is no easy task.

It looks so simple in movies. One of the couple pulls a ring out of their pocket, kneels down in front of their significant other, and pops the question. There might be tears, but it always ends in pure joy.

Movies make it seem like a formula, a simple algorithm that Chan just has to follow in order to get this proposal right. In real life, though, Chan thinks he’s about to lose his mind.

Because movies don’t demonstrate how to act in front of an older brother very protective of his sister. They don’t show him how to talk to his children or hers, how best to ask them if they’re all right with gaining new siblings and a new parent. They don’t give him insight on how to pick the perfect god damn ring, something maybe reminiscent of the promise rings you both wear on chains around your necks, but also not too similar because what if you think he isn’t being creative?

And the worst thing is, they don’t tell him how to pick the perfect moment. They don’t tell him where to go, what ambience is right, whether or not little kids in the room will ruin the timing.

At this point, just thinking about proposing turns Chan into a stammering mess. Even though you’ve discussed marriage before, you haven’t made any large moves beyond that. Jisung and Felix have been calling you Mama for a bit, but Hyunjin has only just started calling him Papa, and mostly on accident (though each time he does, Chan’s heart fills with this overwhelming happiness that brings tears to his eyes). What if you decide now isn’t the right time? What if you decide you want to wait a little longer?

What if you decide Chan isn’t the right person for you?

That’s a question that plagues Chan every time his mind even brushes on the topic of marriage.

He loves you, though, he loves you so much. And he knows you’re the right partner for him, even if in the end you might decide he isn’t the right partner for you.

Patience, he tells himself, taking a deep breath. He really should be working on this new track, but instead, he’s staring into his hands, trying to map out the perfect proposal. Not too fast, Chan. Take it in steps.

The only problem is, step one scares him out of his wits.

. . . . .

Chan is a full year older than Minho, and then some. By all rights, he’s the elder, and he shouldn’t be as terrified of the younger man as he is.

Minho’s a scary person, though. He’s driven, concentrated, focused – it’s how he’s gotten so far as both a dancer and a father. Chan knows he’s hardworking, but Minho is just as much, if not more, than he is.

And he’s very protective of you.

(When Minho found out you two were dating, he told Chan, verbatim, “I won’t hesitate to take you to international waters, chop up your body, and toss the parts overboard if you hurt my sister.” Just thinking about the blank expression Minho had on when he spoke those words is almost enough to make Chan lose his nerve.)

But here he is, standing just outside of Minho’s studio, ready to knock. He’s sweating, not because it’s hot or anything (it’s actually pretty cold because Minho is weird like that), but just out of sheer nervousness. His heart feels like it’s pounding a mile a minute.

Oh, God. Chan raises his hand again to rap on the door. Stop thinking. Just do it.

He knocks.

A few seconds later, the dancer opens the door in all his sweaty glory. “Chan?”

“Yeah.” Chan tries to smile, but he’s pretty sure it just looks like a grimace. “Can I ask you something?”

A glint comes into Minho’s eyes. “Of course, come on in.” He opens the door widely, smiling in a distinctly cat-like fashion that is literally scrambling Chan’s brain.

Why does he look like he knows what Chan’s about to ask?

The door swings shut with a soft but audible click, and with the noise goes Chan’s last chance to run away.

“So?” Minho looks over once Chan’s inside the room. He’s enjoying this way too much.

There’s no way he doesn’t know what I want to ask.

“I… um, so I’ve been dating your sister for a few years,” Chan starts.

Minho actually snorts. “Yes, I’m aware.”

Chan can feel the tips of his ears turning bright red. “Right. Um, I just wanted your approval for – I’m planning to – well, with your permission, of course –”

The smirk on Minho’s face only grows with each stuttering word that comes out of Chan’s mouth. And in all honesty, he actually has no idea what he’s saying. All of the sentences he rehearsed in his head before coming here seem to have completely flown out of his brain, and from Minho’s expression, he just sounds like an idiot.

He keeps going anyway, because nervous Chan doesn’t always make the best decisions to make himself look good.

“Well – um, look, I just really love her a lot.” Chan looks down with the admission, knowing he’s definitely rambled too much already, but he needs to get on with it and ask the stupid question. “I… wantedtoaskifyouwouldbeokaywithmeaskingtomarryher.”

Minho leans forward, eyes innocently wide. “Sorry, I didn’t get that, can you repeat what you said again?”

Lee Minho, you are a grade-A asshole.

Face burning, Chan clears his throat. “I wanted to ask if you would be okay with me asking to marry her. Your sister, I mean.”

Silence. Minho leaves him in silence for five whole seconds which feel more like five millennia. Chan thinks he’s going to crumble into dust on the floor out of terror and embarrassment.

“Do you have a ring?” Minho finally asks.

Chan’s cheeks burn redder. “Not… not yet.”

“So you’ll need help picking one, then?” The dancer raises one perfect eyebrow.

“… Yes?”

“Beautiful. I’ll be there whenever you need me.” Minho smiles. “Anything else you wanted to ask?”

Chan just stands there, dumbfounded. “So… is your answer yes?”

The smile immediately drops off of Minho’s face, replaced by an eye roll and a sigh. “Yes, Bang Chan, you idiot.” He punches Chan’s shoulder. “No one’s ever going to fully deserve Y/N, but you’re the closest I think anyone’s going to get. You really thought I’d say no?”

Rubbing his arm, Chan smiles sheepishly. “You can’t blame me for being nervous.”

“What? Nervous, around me?” Minho laughs, sharp and loud. Even though Chan knows he’s teasing, it’s still a bit frightening. “Never would’ve thought that.”

“You’re just proving my point,” Chan says.

“No, I’m not.” Minho smiles, close-lipped and slit-eyed. It’s terrifying. “Now, off you go. And don’t come back unless you need help picking a ring!”

It takes Chan five minutes of sitting in the hallway, garnering strange looks from several people passing by, before his legs are stable enough to take him back to his own studio. Heart still pounding, he mentally crosses a line through step one.

Next comes step two. Chan purses his lips. Step two is a bit less scary than step one (mostly because it involves children and not Lee Minho), but no less challenging.

Well, he got through Minho. Chan sighs. He just has to hope that the kids will be as receptive to the idea of a new parent as Minho was to a brother-in-law.

. . . . .

The kids know that you and Chan are at least, in some shape or form, together. They might not understand the nuances, like how you’re technically dating but don’t always refer to yourselves as boyfriend and girlfriend (because it just feels so much deeper than that, somehow), but they understand that you two “like” each other (Jisung pretends to vomit every time he hears the word “love,” so Chan just uses the word “like” to avoid that) and thus live together.

They love it, most of the time. Hyunjin was a little put out when he found out he would have to share a room with two other boys, but after Minho moved out and Hyunjin realized he would get his uncle’s old (and slightly bigger) room, he happily accepted the new plan. Jisung and Felix were mostly just happy to live with their best friend.

(Children, Chan just thinks. They’re so easy and so hard to please.)

Of course, there are difficulties. Jisung’s sensitive and has more than once broken down when he thinks Chan isn’t giving him enough attention with a new boy in the household. Felix’s tantrums are rarer, but they exist, and Hyunjin is still getting used to sharing his mom with someone else.

They’re a family, though, a messy, mostly happy family that can pull together at the end of the day and whisper “I love yous” to each other before bedtime. And that’s something Chan values more than anything in the world.

Which is why obtaining his kids’ approval for officially tying the knot is something so important to him.

He gathers them together one day in the apartment with the promise of watching a cartoon show after he asks them something. Three pairs of big eyes stare up at him from the couch, and Chan feels his heart melting with love and racing with anxiety.

Chan takes a breath. “Do you know what marriage is?”

“Yeah!” Jisung pipes up. “It’s when a girl and a boy get together and kiss!”

The laughter spills out of Chan’s mouth before he can even think. “Well, not quite, Jisung,” he chokes out, trying to stifle his remaining giggles. “It’s when two people who love each other very much get together officially. Marriage can be between a woman and a man, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. Any two people can get married.”

Three small heads bob their heads in understanding.

“I wanted to ask you three if you would be okay with me marrying Y/N.” Chan looks each of the boys in the eye. “Is it?”

Felix nods quickly. “Yes!”

Jisung furrows his eyebrows. “Are we still going to live together?”

Chan smiles. “Yes, Sungie.”

The other twin nods. “Okay!”

Hyunjin’s mouth pouts slightly. “Will I have to call you Papa?”

A little piece of Chan’s heart breaks, but he tries not to show it. “No, of course not, Hyunjin.” He smiles as brightly as he can. “You can keep calling me Channie or Uncle Channie or whatever you want. You don’t have to call me Papa if you don’t want to.”

Hyunjin’s round, dark eyes gaze into his with a solemnity Chan honestly didn’t know toddlers could have. “Do you want me to call you Papa?”

Oh, fuck.

What the hell does Chan say to that?

With a sigh, he decides to be honest. “I would love it if you did, Hyunjin, but like I said, you don’t have to. I’ll never force you to do something you really don’t want to.”

There are a few seconds of silence, then Hyunjin nods. “Okay. You can marry my Mama.”

A weight lifts itself off of Chan’s chest and he smiles, freer this time. “Thank you, kids. One more thing – don’t tell Y/N about this!” He looks into each of their eyes, trying to convey how serious he is but in a fun way. “It’s a secret, okay?”

“Like a spy mission?” Jisung bounces in excitement.

The smile on his face widens. “Yes, Sungie. Like a spy mission.” He looks at the other two boys. “Do you promise? Pinky promise?” He holds out his pinkie.

The three resulting shouts of “YES!” make Chan hope their neighbors won’t come knocking. But even if they did, Chan thinks, he wouldn’t care.

He’d go to the ends of the earth to defend these three kids, after all.

. . . . .

Step three goes by in a flash. Out of sheer anxiety, Chan actually takes a full day off from work and calls Minho for help in finding the perfect ring.

Miraculously, he finds something within his budget range – a silver band with a small diamond set in the center. It’s simple but elegant, and the diamond glints beautifully in the sunlight. Really, the ring matches the way Chan often finds himself summing up your existence.

So only the last step remains: the actual proposal.

Looking back, Chan has no idea why he thought each of the other steps was so stressful. This is pure stress, he thinks, waiting for the perfect time to pop the question. Should he plan something extravagant? Or should he just go with the flow? When is the perfect time, anyway? What constitutes “perfect” in your mind? In his?

Minho just tells him to wait for the moment he thinks is “right.” But what the hell does “right” even mean?

“You’ll figure it out.” The dancer gives Chan a bright grin, patting his shoulder. “And if you don’t, I’ll tear you limb from limb.”

Chan just puts his face in his hands and screams.

. . . . .

When Chan proposes, the sky is dark. The kids are already tucked in bed, and you’re sitting on the couch, leaning into his shoulder as you mindlessly scroll through your phone.

Absently strumming his guitar, Chan smiles down at your face, illuminated by your phone’s glow. As if sensing him staring, you look up as well. “Sing me something?” you murmur.

“Of course, love.” He leans down to kiss the top of your head. “What song?”

“Anything you choose,” you reply. “Anything.”

Chan thinks for a moment, then starts strumming the instrument.

Softly, with mood, tightly hug her

Use it once a day, every day…

When your eyes meet hers, smile.

The characteristic chords of one of your favorite songs make you relax even further into Chan’s body, a smile blooming across your face. He badly wants to stop playing and just kiss you good and full, but he keeps his fingers strumming the guitar.

Let her breathe under a different sky, a different wind,

Sometimes, kiss her without a plan…

Chan almost stops playing.

Without a plan.

He doesn’t have a plan. He doesn’t have any proper plan on how he’s going to pull the little box out of his pocket and ask the question. But now…

Maybe he’s got an idea.

The final chords die away, and Chan finally gets his long-awaited kiss when you sit up lethargically, pressing your lips to his softly. “Are you awake enough for one more?” he whispers when you pull away.

“Mm, one more.” You nod happily, snuggling back into his side. “Then sleep.”

Chan takes a breath. One chance, Chan. This is your chance.

His fingers start strumming a song very familiar by now to him and the boys. From the way your eyes light up, you recognize it too.

It doesn’t have words. It’s just a collection of guitar chords, hastily arranged in a sweet, rough melody. In the track version, it would have piano, but because Chan only has two hands, he has to make do with just the strings of the guitar.

It’s the first song he ever wrote for his twins, the song he created that day so many years ago when they weren’t even born, when they were still kicking in their mother’s stomach. They think of it as their family song, the song he plays when the twins are sad, when they can’t get to sleep, or when they just want to hear something nice.

The last strains of the song fade away and Chan looks at you to see a tear glittering on your cheek. “You play that when the boys are sad,” is all you say. “It’s your family song.”

Chan smiles softly. “But you’re part of the family too.”

When he pulls out the box, your eyes widen. “Chan –”

“Shh.” He presses a finger gently to your lips. “Y/N, the past few years you’ve been with me have been some of the best of my life, and I can’t ever thank you enough for staying with me all this time.” There’s a tear welling up in Chan’s eye, but he blinks it away. “I would love to spend the rest of my life with you, if you would marry me.”

There’s a moment of silence that nearly gives Chan a heart attack. What if you say no?

“You – you stupid romantic sap.” The tears are really sliding down your cheeks now, but your mouth is smiling wide. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Chan. I’ll marry you.”

Chan can’t speak as he slides the ring onto your finger with trembling hands. Throat choked, he can only pull you close, burying his face in your shoulder as your tears soak his shirt. “I love you so much,” you whisper.

He pulls back just enough for to see your eyes sparkling with love, so much love. Your touch intoxicates him, with your fingers pressing gently against his skin as you press your lips to his in a sweet, sweet kiss.

Yes, he thinks. You’re the right partner for him.

The perfect partner for him.

Teary-eyed, he smiles. “I love you too.”

If you enjoyed, please don’t forget to reblog and leave a comment to tell me what you thought! Thank you for reading and have a lovely day <3

(1 reblog = 1 congratulations for the newly engaged couple!!!)

[ohhipstaplease]

Angst number 24🥺

Angst # 24 “I thought I’d never see you again.”

Canon Compliant | One-shot | Angst With A Happy Ending | T+ | Ao3

Drabble List

Her heart was in her throat since the moment Sai had delivered the news. 

“We can’t seem to locate him, Hinata.”

Naruto had always prepared her for this moment, the inevitable one that always seemed to cloud over them. He had left her a list of numbers to call, and bills that would have to be paid. The key to their old apartment, where they still stored some of their things. And a box of mementos, ones that he’d want her to pass on to their children. She’d always side-glance the desk where he’d keep all of this, praying that she’d never actually had to open the drawer that held all of the things she’d need in case of an emergency.

“I love you,” He had whispered the day he had left, kissing her gently as he wrapped his arms around her once more. He had told her not to get up from bed, he had already fed their son and she needed her to rest now that she was with child again.

She didn’t want to listen, but exhaustion kept her from fighting him. Instead, she breathed him in as he protectively placed a hand on her rounded stomach. He whispered sweet nothings to their unborn child, kissing her belly for good measure. It made her heart flutter as she watched him, knowing that another child meant another chance for her husband to be a loving father once again. 

“Hinata?”

Her eyes fluttered open and met his once again, “Yes?”

“You know what to do if something happens, right?”

Her heart dropped into her stomach at the thought, but she pretended like she was fine. Worrying him right before he took off wouldn’t help anyone. 

“Yes. But nothing will, Naruto-Kun. You’ll come home safely to us like you always do.”

A ninja’s life was tenuous, short-lived. The young couple understood that, they did. But Naruto...he was the exception to the rule. After everything he had lived through, all the battles he had won, Hinata believed him to be unbreakable, unbeatable. Sometimes she had even wondered if he was even human.

But then something like this happened and it led Hinata to question everything she had ever believed.

“Hinata, did you hear me?” Sai asked, worriedly. He led her to a chair in the couple’s kitchen and had her sit down, worried that she might faint.

“W-what do you mean you can’t locate him?” 

She looked over her shoulder at their sleeping son on the couch, the spitting image of his father. Her hand protectively covered her growing bump, almost as if sheltering their unborn child from hearing what was being said.

“He’s been missing for more than a couple of hours now. We’ve sent out our best team to find him, Hinata...” Sai clasped her shoulder, trying to reassure her. 

Still, nothing would ground her. She felt as if her soul had left her body. If it hadn’t been for Boruto asking why she was crying, she probably wouldn’t have even remembered she had two other lives to care for.

She didn’t have time to sit around and be sad, she was a mother first now. She knew that, understood that she and Naruto now came second. But still, she couldn’t bear to get up from bed.

“I-I’m okay, baby,” She tried, “Your sibling was kicking all night and wouldn’t let me sleep.”

“Is that why you’re crying?” 

Her son jumped up onto their bed and gently patted her belly, “Hey you, you’re making mama cry. Stop moving around in there!”

Hinata couldn’t help but smile through her tears, grasping her son and cuddling him to her chest. 

Yes, she and Naruto had the talk many times. What would happen if he died on a mission or if she passed away during childbirth. They weren’t easy things to discuss, no, they both would end up in tears, desperately grasping each other and hoping they’d never have to know what life was like without the other. 

She had memorized every line on his face by now, every crinkle by his eyes when he laughed. She had always tried to drink in every detail of her life with him and their children, never for a second taking it for granted.

So she didn’t understand why, now when it counted, she couldn’t seem to picture Naruto’s laughing face. 

“When is daddy coming back?”

Hinata stifled a sob and looked down at her son, “Soon, baby. He got a little lost on the way back home.”

“Oh, well...next time let’s draw him a map.”

She nodded, “That’s a great idea, Boruto. Why don’t we do that right now?”

“Yeah?”

She smiled, “Yes, go get your crayons. We can turn on the TV and sit on the floor in the living room.”

Boruto bolted from her side and giddily ran down the hall to his room to gather his coloring supplies.

Hinata tried to wipe her tears and compose herself. It wouldn’t be good for her or the baby to continue down this road. She knew Naruto would be worried if something were to happen to her or their unborn child, so she tried her best to push away any frightening thoughts and instead imagined her golden boy coming home to her once again.

“Mama, can you help me draw the map?”

She nodded as she poured her son a cup of tea and placed a few of his favorite treats in front of him. He smilingly picked one out and started eating, leaving a few crumbs behind. She watched him in awe, still not quite sure how they had managed to create him. Her heart swelled as she watched him, making the young boy furrow his brow and ask, “Are you okay?”

“Ignore me,” She waved her hand and picked up an orange crayon, “Let’s draw this for daddy, yes?”

The pair colored for what seemed like hours. Hinata attempted to focus on the task before her, but every so often her mind wandered and her eyes drifted to the phone. Willing it to finally ring, to finally have someone tell her the inevitable.

She just needed to know, either way. She needed to know if she had to go open the drawer, go through the papers, unlock their apartment, and move out their things.

So many things to do, so little time to process.

“Mama!?” Boruto asked frantically, waving his small hand in front of her face.

“What is it?”

“The phone is ringing!”

Hinata jumped up from her seat and dashed to the phone. With her heart in her throat as she picked up and said into the receiver, “Hello?” she prayed for good news.

“Hinata?” She heard Sakura’s voice ask.

“Yes!?”

“You need to come to the hospital. Let me send someone to bring you and Boruto.”

“I-Is he okay?”

Sakura exhaled, “He’s in rough shape, but he’s going to be fine.”

Hinata’s legs gave out from under her, and she managed to fall upon her knees as she cried into her hands. Boruto quickly picked up the phone and asked, “Auntie Sakura? Mama’s crying.”

“Is she alright?” Sakura asked.

Boruto studied his mother and nodded, “Mmhmm. I think she’s okay, just crying.”

“You take care of her, okay? I’m going to send Sai to bring you over to see your dad.”

“Dad’s back!?”

“Yes he is, we’ll see you soon okay? Take care of your mama.”

Boruto quickly hung up the phone and ran upstairs to grab his coat and his mother’s. Just as he heard Sai knock on the door he grabbed the map he and Hinata had just finished and folded it into his pocket.

He was going to make sure his dad didn’t worry his mom like that ever again. 

---

“I thought I’d never see you again,” Hinata cried as she hugged her husband tightly to her chest. 

“Hina, you know I’d never leave you,” He muttered as he tried to mask the pain she was inflicting onto his already injured body.

“Daddy!” Boruto called as he jumped onto his father’s hospital bed.

“Gentle!” Sakura yelled as she walked in behind him, “He has a long road ahead of him before he can horse around with you again, Boruto.”

Naruto look down at his son and smiled, “Did you take care of mom?”

Boruto nodded solemnly, “Yeah, and we made you this,” he grabbed the map out of his pocket and placed it on Naruto’s lap, “Just to make sure you always make your way back home okay? I don’t want you worrying mama like that again.”

Hinata brushed Boruto’s hair back and kissed his forehead as Naruto tried to push away his tears. 

“No matter where I go, now I know I won’t get lost,” Naruto said proudly as he took Boruto into his embrace and pressed his cheek to Hinata’s swelling belly, “I’ll always know my way back home thanks to you three.”

[themonotonysyndrome]

The Queen’s Lynchpin

We’re getting to part 3 of the ‘Successors of the Future”! This week has gone back to being hectic so I could only write this part here and there for only a few hours. Still, I’m happy that I could finally finish it. 

And we have the names of MC’s and Yandere!Malleus children as well as his second wife and the other prince! Any piece of info from @tri3tri Second Wife AU is always fun to read! With that said, I’ll be adding their names into the 2 previous oneshots after this is posted so it’s all align. If you want to know more about this AU, please drop by at @tri3tri blog. Their content and drabbles are amazing!

Lastly, I think it’s alright if I don’t add the link and summary of the previous oneshots of this series in every new piece. The intro is just gonna be super long otherwise. But if you guys think that a link and summary it’s a good, please let me know I’ll be sure to add them in. 

-

“Uh Mama? Have you been hearing... noises in the middle of the night?”

“You mean your sister talking to her mirror in her room in the dead of the night? Then yes, sweetie.”

MC smile, deeply amused, when her son let out a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s just her talking to Ren.” 

“I’ll tell her to keep it down if she’s talking to Renata at night, don’t worry.” MC assured him with a pat on his head. 

“Thanks, Mama. Say, do you have any plans for today?” Lucien’s sudden question was a little odd to MC. The three of them have been staying in the house - only going out for a grocery run - lately, and she didn’t have any plans to change it. 

“Not really. I was thinking to catch up with some leftover work from the office before Monday comes. Why? Do you want to go anywhere?” MC inquire curiously.

Lucien is quick to shake his head. “Oh, no, no. Umm... Mama, you often look so sad lately. We know that having Ren away at Twisted Wonderland has been hard on you, so I just thought maybe we could all do something to help make you feel better.” He explains with a bit of hesitance, wringing his hands. It’s clear to MC that this is one sensitive topic that he didn’t want to unintentionally hurt her with. 

MC couldn’t help but smile at how thoughtful her little one is. Really, all of her children can be rowdy in their own way but at the end of the day, she always noticed that they tried so hard not to make her worry. But as the parent, it’s her honour to protect her children - not the other way around. Which is why seeing the hesitant expression on Lucien’s face tugs her heart. 

“Oh, Luci. I didn’t mean to worry you and your sisters. It’s just that...” MC paused for a moment to think on how to properly express her feelings. “None of you has ever been separated from me. The issue with your father is one thing, but I can’t help but fret about your oldest sister. Is she eating well over there? Sleeping early on a school day? Oh, but then again, she does have a habit of waking up around 2 in the morning looking for a snack if she sleeps too early.” MC bit her lower lip, she should have told Renata during their last talk to keep some snacks in her room in case she gets hungry. 

Ever since Renata had first contacted Sherrie and taught her the communication runes and she in return, taught her and Lucien on how to draw them on any mirror in the house, they all have been talking to Renata through the large, hanging mirror in the living room every day. 

“We can ask her if she’s been waking up in the middle of night after our dinner, Mama.” Lucien assured their mother. He took her empty tea cup and pour some tea from the still hot pot and push the porcelain cup back to her. They were having tea and a light meal in the kitchen after he had woken up from his nap. 

Sherrie passed on their invitation since she’s too busy livestreaming her latest game in her room. From below, they could hear her muffled voice. 

MC took a sip and hums thoughtfully. “You’re right, Honey. I’ll be sure to do that. Anyway, you mentioned a family activity - what do you have in mind?” Perhaps a distraction is just what she needed to get her mind off Malleus and the inevitable danger he’ll bring. 

Lucien’s eyes brighten in delight. Happy that he could do something to cheer her up. 

“I found this recipe recently and I was hoping that we can all cook together? It’ll be fun I promise!” He pleaded. Among all her children, Lucien is the only one with the knack for cooking. Sherrie can make simple meals whenever she wants. 

Renata, however, needs to be supervised even if she wants to boil a pot of water. 

“Sure! I’d love to. So what’s this recipe you want to cook?” 

Much later when it’s almost dinner time and Sherrie wrapped up her livestream, MC and Lucien are already in the kitchen preparing to cook. Curiously, she glances at the list of ingredients and steps for dinner that was left on the kitchen counter and her eyes bugged out at what they were going to make. 

“I feel like there are things that mankind should never attempt lest the price be their sanity. And this? This is it!” Sherrie shrieked, flapping the flimsy paper incredulously at them. MC is preparing the dough while Lucien makes sure they got all the ingredients out and ready. 

“What? Boba pizza sounds delicious!” Lucien rebuke with a small frown. “And beside, you won’t know if you like them if you haven’t try.” 

Sherrie just slap her forehead at his words, as if she couldn’t believe this. “I know you’re pretty crazy for boba teas but this is ridiculous! Pizza dessert for dinner? Can’t we have something normal, Mama?” She pleaded their mother. 

MC toss her a playful smile as she rolls the dough. “Well honey, it does sound pretty exciting when you said it. Pizza dessert!” When Sherrie’s face scrunched up in disgust, she tries to coax her daughter, “Aww, c’mon, honey. Look, you can order a delivery for yourself but come have fun with us! I’ll even let you toss the dough if you want.” 

Sherrie folded after that. Honestly, making pizza - of any kind - is always messy process, but her children are having fun with smudges of powder on their faces and MC felt her heart lighten just hearing them laugh. Dinner might be unconventional tonight, but it was worth it to see Lucien enjoy eating his pizza and Sherrie reluctant admittance that it tasted alright, if a bit weird. 

Once the kitchen is all cleaned up and their stomachs full, they settled in the living room. MC and Lucien watched as Sherrie used her old, red lipstick to draw the runes on the mirror. The surface rippled once, sinking the runes and reveal Renata in her pyjamas beaming at them. 

“Good evening everyone! How are ya’ll doing?” 

“Hi sweetie. We just had dinner.” MC said, glad that her eldest daughter still looks healthy and happy. 

“You wouldn’t believe what we had for dinner.” Sherrie interjects dryly. The 3 of them are sitting on the couch with MC in the middle. “It’s so weird!”

“But you liked it!” Lucien countered with a smug grin before turning to his oldest sister. “We had boba pizza! It was amazing!”

“Boba pizza!? Nooo! I can’t believe you all ate them without me! I’ve been wanting to try them!” Renata whines. “I wish we can pass stuffs through the mirror. Wait - I might be able to do something about that actually.” She goes on to mutter about needing to bully the headmaster again.  

The family traded what they did during the day, Renata assuring them that yes, she had a storage full of snacks in her room and that her favourite lesson so far is Flying class. Once that’s out of the way, MC asked her daughter, “How are your assignments? Is Leona-senpai’s son helping you out?”

When Renata told them that her History’s assignment partner is none other than Leona’s son, MC was a bit worried if he carries his father prejudice against Malleus towards her daughter, but Renata assured her that other than his funny attempts at posturing and warning growls, Bakari Kingscholar has been nothing but civil and helping out with researching and editing their papers. 

“Yup! We’re nearly done with our homework and I think we’re friends now? He’s a bit of tsundere which makes teasing him so much fun!” Renata giggled. “You know, just today we decided to have lunch together after our assignment and when I went back to my room and check my bag, there was a candy bar inside. He must’ve slip it in when I told him that I snacked often.” 

Sherrie immediately drop her phone. She was mindlessly browsing through her Twitter account while they talked, but her attention perk like a hound dog. “Whoa, whoa wait - he bought you food when you told him that you eat often? Me thinks he might like you, dude.” 

MC’s eyes widen and Lucien gape. Could that be true!? 

But Renata just rolled her eyes. “Oh please, I think he was thanking me for not making him do all the work. You know those tough guy acts? Yeah, it’s nothing special.” 

Sherrie tilt her head, clearly not believing it, but keep it to herself for now. 

“Being the only girl in a school for boys must be tough.” Lucien mused sympathetically. “I’m glad that you have a friend with you, Ren.” 

“Well, Diasomnia students has mostly been friendly yet distant with me so far. Probably because of this,” Renata twirl her fingers beside her horns to emphasise her point. “But it’s cool. So far, no one tries to bully me or anything. And by the way, I’ve been staying out of trouble, Cherry. I haven’t even landed myself in detention so far.” She proudly announced. 

“Yet.” Sherrie snickers. 

Lucien frowns at her. “Ren has been working hard, Cherry. She’s been sticking to your plans, right? I seriously don’t think she will mess it up.” 

“Nah, it’s all cool Luci. I’ve mostly been blowing off steam during Magishift. It’s super fun! I wish you guys could play too.” Renata said and then proceed to explain to her siblings what Magishift is all about. 

That’s another thing that MC had picked up as Lucien grew up. Despite how close her daughters are, they do bickers as sisters tend to and Lucien usually act as the mediator and peacemaker between them when things get too heated. 

MC couldn’t help wonder if her sweet boy would ever be like this if he was raised in Malleus’ castle.

The family talked a little more until it was getting late. After bidding each other goodnight and MC telling her daughter to keep herself safe, she ushered Lucien and Sherrie to their bed and tucked herself in. 

That night, she dreamt of a past memory. However in her dream, all 3 of her children are laughing and free as they grow in her world. 

-

Now that Lucien thinks about it - he doesn’t really know what Sherrie plan is exactly. He’s aware that they’re doing their best to help Renata avoid being discover by their father as long as they can and Mama told her to make friends with the children of her old friends since they helped her out a lot during her school life in Night Raven College but other than that? He doesn’t know what they would do once father found out about their oldest sister. 

That particular though came back in his mind when he woke up from his sleep because he heard Sherrie giggling in her room. With blearily eyes, he checked the time on his phone and groan. 

It’s 3.15 in the morning. 

He push himself out of his warm bed with great difficulties and slowly padded towards Sherrie’s bedroom. 

He knocked twice and groan, “Sherrie? It’s seriously late. Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” 

“Shit, Luci-chan? Sorry, did I woke you up? You can come in if you want. The door is not locked.” 

With a tired grumbled, he swings open the door and zombie-walk to her sister who is sitting in front of her vanity table, talking to Renata. 

“Hey Luci! Sorry that we woke you up!” Renata apologised quickly, guilty that they’ve disturbed their little brother. “I was just reporting to Cherry that I found several hidden and unmarked paths that connects to father’s castle and to the outside world of the Valley of Thorns. I thought it might come in handy so I wanted to share it with her.” 

That sounds interesting to Lucien. He’s a little more awake now. “Did you use your spells to scout the area?”

“I sure did! Haven’t been caught by anyone or any bat so far.” 

“What... what does father’s castle look like?” Lucien couldn’t help but asked. It’s hard to believe that he and his family are actually royalty. That his Mama and sisters used to live in a castle. 

It’s still hard to accept that he’s actually a prince. 

“Gloomy.” Was Renata immediate reply. All her previous good humour vanishes and her hard glare surprises him. “We hardly get any sunshine because father controls the weather with his temper tantrums.”

“Not to mention that we had to live with basically strangers.” Sherrie added. “I never really feel comfortable around the castle’s staffs. Sure we got the family wing all to ourselves but we still had to deal with them.” Both Lucien and Renata understand her unspoken words: having to deal with judgemental strangers is difficult. 

“What are you going to do once father founds out you’re in Twisted Wonderland, Ren? Are you going to go hiding?” Lucien asked. 

It’s Sherrie who answered him, “No. We’re going to make sure that he can’t forcefully take Mama or any of us back to the castle. I just need a little more info and we can act once the 3 of us are in Twisted Wonderland.” She explains. 

“We suspect that once Cherry hits sixteen, the Ebony Carriage will also pick her up and by that time I’ll be in my second year as a student here. If that’s the case, we just need you here and then it’s the second phase.” Renata took over explaining here. “Rumours spread fast in Night Raven College, but it’s not going to reach to father. He’s in an isolated country. Well, not until he’s here.”

Lucien blink, now lost. “He? Who’s he?” 

“We have a halfbrother - Victor. He’s the same age as you, Luci-chan. Looks like father didn’t waste any time getting his second wife pregnant.” Sherrie said with a smile that honestly send cold shivers up his spine. It’s sweet with a poison laced underneath. Lucien seen this smile only once. A girl from school tried to blackmailed and bullied her into doing her biddings. 

He heard that the girl was transferred to another school in a different state soon after when news broke out that she was selling drugs with her boyfriend to the students. 

Lucien would like to believe that the incident had nothing to with his sister, but he’s seen what she does for Renata whenever she lost her homework or to the English Literature teacher that had an issue with her. 

So Lucien needed to asks this. “Are you... are you going to hurt him?” His voice is soft and careful. 

Through the mirror, Renata eyed Sherrie in which his second sister leans into her chair and relaxes. “I won’t, don’t worry. After all, he’s not at fault.” 

Words are Sherrie’s favourite playthings and at that moment, Lucien hopes she means it. 

-

Funny enough, I’ve been calling S/N (Lucien) as Luciel because it means light and I HC that MC sees him as the unexpected light that Malleus gave her. Her daughters are a treasure but Lucien serve as MC’s light. It’s fate! 

So far for Lucien, my main reference for him are two people actually. Dead Master from Black Rock Shooter and Nisha Labyrinth from Elsword! 

Will expand more on them as I continue to write. Also, I’m shit when it comes to timeline and ages so here’s my rough idea so far:

Renata = 16 years old (first-year student)

Sherrie = 15 years old

Lucien = 13 yeard old

I’ll change the kids’ age if Tri reveal them on their blog.  

[just-a-poor-boy-queen]

To the anon who requested the school prompts; I attempted to write something about a parent-teacher meeting, but I couldn’t come up with a believable way for both Freddie and Jim to attend, given that Freddie would draw way too much attention. I hope you don’t mind if I skip that one. Here’s your request for Freddie picking up Khaleel from school!

Part 36 of Jimercury Kid series

‘Fucking vultures.’ Freddie muttered under his breath, as he sat with Kashmira in her car and observed the small group of journalists who had gathered at the corner of the street opposite Khaleel’s school.

They always hung around there, holding out hope that the little boy might walk through the gates, and they would finally be able to snap a picture of his face to put on the front page of their shitty tabloids. But they were wasting their time. Special arrangements had been made to ensure that Khaleel always exited the school from the back of the building, where Jim or Terry would be waiting to pick him up. By the time the vermin from News of the World had set up their cameras, their target was long gone.

The school run was something that Freddie had always longed to be involved in. Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he just couldn’t help it. He wanted to be able to sit in the car and wait for his little boy to come bouncing through the back doors and into his arms. He wanted to help Khaleel put his seatbelt on and laugh when the child insisted he was a big boy and could do it himself. He wanted to sit in the passenger seat, Khaleel’s bookbag and lunchbox balanced on his lap while his bijou excitedly chatted away about what he got up to in class that day, while Jim turned on the radio and made faces at their son through the rear-view mirror.

He wanted to do what every other parent did. But he couldn’t, because he knew wherever he went the paparazzi would be hot on his tail. All sorts of rumours were still circulating in the press about Kenny’s origins. Some still believed he was the secret lovechild of Freddie and Mary, others reported that he was the result of a one-night stand with a fan and perhaps the worst was a statement made by an anonymous “inside source,” who claimed Freddie had purchased him from the Middle East for over fifty million Indian rupees.

He had resigned himself to the reality that there were some things in Khaleel’s life that he would just have to miss out on. Like end-of-year plays, and parent-teacher meetings, and taking the boy to and from school.

That was until Kash had came up with a rather genius idea.

Freddie’s private car would be easily noticed by the paparazzi. But hers wouldn’t.

‘There he goes.’ Freddie said as the Volvo in front of them pulled away from the pavement and began driving towards the back entrance of the school. ‘Be ready, Kash.’

‘Feels like bloody Mission Impossible.’ Kash laughed, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. ‘I don’t know how you put up with this every day. Why didn’t you just save yourself the trouble and stick to painting?’

Freddie chuckled despite himself. ‘Sometimes I wonder.’

He was glad they could still have conversations like this. They had briefly fallen out of contact after the whole ordeal with social services, but Freddie quickly realised that Kashmira wasn’t the one at fault and she had proved her loyalty to him by telling the truth. Even if they weren’t children anymore, defying their parents was no easy feat and poor Kash was withstanding the worst of the fallout.

‘How are they?’ Freddie asked quietly, almost hoping she wouldn’t hear him. But he should have known better; nothing got past his sister.

‘Not good.’ She replied, still looking out towards the road. ‘They keep asking after you, wanting to know if you’re alright. They ask about Khaleel a lot as well. I never know what to say.’

Freddie felt his jaw clench instinctively. ‘Tell them the truth. It’s been two years and he still has nightmares about what happened. He’s still scared to be left alone and can’t stand to be away from us for too long. It was months before he would go into school without clinging to Jim and begging him not to leave. Dr Atkinson says it may affect him for the rest of his life. You tell them that next time they have the nerve to ask you how Khaleel is doing.’

Kash sighed, glancing down at her hands which were gripping the steering wheel. ‘They really regret what they did, Freddie.’

Freddie rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t start, Kash. If you expect me to forgive them-’

‘No, I don’t.’ His sister cut in, her voice eerily calm. ‘If they had done that to Nathalie and Jamal, I wouldn’t forgive them either. I’m not questioning your decision. I just…’ her hands tightened around the wheel a moment as she lost herself in thought, ‘…I need you to know that they’re truly sorry. I know their apologies mean nothing at this point, but they’re not trying to justify their decisions anymore. They’ve accepted that they did a terrible thing and brought everything that’s happened upon themselves. They’re not asking for forgiveness; they just need you to know that they realise they were wrong.’

Freddie hadn’t anticipated such an answer. He was dumbstruck for a moment, tongue retreating behind his teeth as he allowed her words to sink in. As much as he would deny it, there was still a part of him that longed for the company of his mother and father again; he still found himself lingering by the phone on occasion, half hoping they might call or listening for the buzz of the intercom in case they decided to drop by. Knowing that they were truly sorry didn’t make the pain go away but it did give him an odd sense of comfort.

Before he could respond, he saw the Volvo pulling out onto the road ahead, slowly turning the corner until it was out of sight.

‘Here we go.’ A grin spread across Kash’s face as she belted herself in. ‘Keep your head down.’

Freddie ducked out of view as they passed the huddle of reporters, raising his hand to flip them off before sitting up straight in his seat while Kash cackled like a hyena. They drove up the street and turned the corner where the Volvo was sitting waiting for them.

‘Thank you, Kash.’ Freddie said gently, knowing they only had a limited amount of time before the rest of the students came pouring out onto the street. The last thing he needed was to be chased by a gang of schoolchildren at his age. ‘For this, and for telling me how Mama and Papa are. I appreciate it.’

Kashmira smiled at him, though it looked rather strained. ‘You’re welcome.’ Then she added, almost nervously. ‘You know I love you, right?’

‘Yes.’ Freddie replied, voice almost catching in his throat. ‘I know. I love you too.’

He opened the car door and went to step out, glancing over at the Volvo where Khaleel was sitting in the backseat, bouncing excitedly at the sight of his Baba. Freddie hesitated a moment, before turning to Kash again. ‘Why don’t you and Roger come over for dinner tonight? Bring the kids with you?’

Kashmira’s dark eyes batted in surprise, but she didn’t look displeased. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Jim’s making shepherd's pie tonight and he always makes too much, so…’ He shrugged in a rather lukewarm effort to display indifference, when in fact his heart was hammering painfully. To his relief, Kash smiled.

‘That sounds perfect. I’d love to come.’

‘About six ’clock?’

‘We’ll be there.’

Freddie nodded, the tightness in his chest finally ceasing to be. He wandered if he should embrace her, but decided he wasn’t quite ready for that step and simply said, ‘see you later,’ before shutting the door and making his way over to the Volvo.

‘Baba!’ Khaleel cried as soon as Freddie was near, and he rolled his window down so Freddie could poke his head through and start covering him in kisses. ‘You came, you came!’

‘Yes, I did!’ Freddie blew a raspberry into the child’s neck, making him squeal. ‘We better take you home and get your homework finished – Auntie Kash and your cousins are coming over for dinner.’

Khaleel’s blue-green eyes went wide with joy. ‘Are Dādī and Dādā coming too?’

Freddie’s smile disappeared and he briefly made eye contact with Jim, before saying, ‘I’m sorry, darling. Dādī and Dādā are very busy.’

Khaleel crossed his arms and pouted, ‘they’re always busy.’

‘I know…’ That familiar tightness returned to Freddie's chest, squeezing until it almost hurt to breathe. ‘But let’s not think about that now. Daddy’s making shepherd’s pie, and if you finish your homework on time, you can help him stir the pot.’

This seemed to put the boy in good spirits again and he spent the majority of the car ride chatting away to Freddie about his day as Jim drove them home, careful to keep themselves scarce from any prying eyes. When Khaleel eventually trailed off and turned his attention to the contents of his bookbag, Jim glanced at his husband in the passenger seat and murmured, ‘are you sure you’re okay having Kash over tonight?’

Freddie took a deep breath, staring out the window at the people passing by, not really caring if he was recognised. ‘I can hardly go about the rest of my life pretending she doesn’t exist.’

When this didn’t earn the chuckle he had anticipated, he sighed. ‘None of this is Kash's fault. I know she could have told me sooner about Mama and Papa calling social services, but what matters is that she did tell me. She chose me over them, which must have been the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. I’ve already lost most of my family, I don’t need to lose anymore. It's time to make peace.’

Jim nodded wordlessly, reaching over and gently grasping Freddie’s hand. ‘I’m really proud of you, sweetheart.’

Freddie lifted the Irishman's hand to kiss his knuckles. ‘Thank God somebody is, darling.’

This was a perfect mix of sweet and angsty. Lol at the beginning I thought it'll be about our dads picking their baby up from school and being all cute and adorable, then BAM, came the angst. But I absolutely loved it!

Someone recently asked in the notes of one your drabbles about any lingering trauma that Khaleel feels at this point in the series. I think they've got their answer now. It's plausible really, for a child to experience the after-effects of being so harshly separated from his parents. I can only imagine how painful it must've been for the real Freddie to be isolated from his parents at such a young age. Poor baby.

I am glad Kash and Freddie are mending their relationship. I often get the feeling that Kash was never too involved in Freddie's life, but had Freddie survived his illness, it's possible that they may have grown closer. In the context of what has happened in this universe specifically, it'll be a while before they're completely comfortable with each other. But I am glad that Freddie is making an effort.

The end was so sweet, my heart. The perfect end to all the angst💙

(More drabbles by writer anon)

(All the parts of this series can also be found under the tag #freddie and jim and their baby on this blog)

[enamoured-x]

Can I get a Riot with plus sized WOC with a whole BAWSE ass attitude running her own shit. Rio hears about her from Mick and he goes to meet her and is hella surprised by her but loves it?

Hey, babe! So I didn’t incorporate part of this request because I don’t usually describe how the reader looks in any of my drabbles! (unless the story’s main focal point revolves around looks or if it’s an oc). It’s always up for interpretation and this way it’s never tailored to anyone specifically and anyone can fit into the reader! Does that make sense? Either way, I had so much fun with this and I lowkey want to include more parts and make it a mini series but… we’ll see. I hope you like it still! (gif not mine)

Rio hated to say that he was single and most definitely ready to get back into the game. And he hated to say that luck was not on his side. He went on a few dates but nothing ever stuck. Most of them seemed like they were only going out with him to spite their over protective dads. He was also having a hard time trying to sort out who would accept him and everything he does. That was obviously hard because there wasn’t a full proof plan for that. All the girls he gave a chance to seemed like they’d walk away as soon as they got a whiff of what he did. It was frustrating. He needed someone who understood him, someone who wouldn’t bat an eye at who he was. Which was what he expressed to Mick one night while they were playing pool. He usually wasn’t so straight forward with his feelings but he was growing tired of the failed attempts of finding someone right for him. 

“You’re looking in all the wrong places.” Mick had told him as he took his turn.

“The hell you mean?”

“All these girls you’ve asked out are just like those suburban bitches. They’re too clean. You need someone who knows what it’s like to be dirty.” Mick explained as he kept taking turns after knocking balls in the sockets left and right. 

“And where the hell do I find someone like that?” Rio asked, finally taking a turn on the table. 

“I think I know someone you might like.” Mick suggested.

“Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try.” He shrugged and Mick agreed to make a call tomorrow. 

You were busy today, well you were busy everyday it seemed like. You knew it came with the territory of building your empire. You had appearances to keep up, money to collect, and people to put down if they messed with any of it. It was hard, most days you were glad to get home and curl into bed. But lately you felt like there was a piece missing, someone missing. You were craving intimacy and love, something real. You had tried your hand at some blind dates that your friends set up but they were all busts. Guys who were threatened by a powerful woman such as yourself. Guys who clearly wanted to own you in some way or another. You needed someone who could match you. Someone who was fine letting you take control sometimes, someone who was your equal. Someone who wouldn’t be threatened by your power, only enthralled by it. 

You felt like fate was hitting you over the head the day your old friend, Mick, called you. He had explained that he wanted to set his friend up and figured you two would get along really well. You had thought you were done with other people controlling who you went out with but Mick was different. You grew up with him and he knew what you liked and what you didn’t. He knew what you did as well, so you figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot. 

Fate was not with you the day your date was supposed to be though. Your right hand had explained to you that two men who had owed you money were trying to skip town. You had eyes on them at all times for this very reason but you never thought they’d be stupid enough to do it. So you had to call Mick to cancel, he seemed to be relieved as he was about to call you to cancel as well, explaining that something came up. You were fine with it. You could reschedule, after all. So you and your right hand, Gabby, went to pay the idiots a visit. When you got to the run down warehouse they were supposedly staying at, they were more than surprised to see you. 

“Trying to run out on me?” You asked the men as you stepped into view. They had been laying low here. The sun would be setting soon but it was in full force right now as it shone through the windows, illuminating the space. 

“Back the hell up.” One of them said, pulling a gun out and aiming it at you. Gabby straightened up and pulled her gun out, aiming it at him. You huffed out a laugh.

“Drop the gun, don’t make this worse for yourself.” You didn’t bother mentioning that they had already fucked up. 

“Her first!” He flicked the gun in Gabby’s direction. You rolled your eyes but gave no orders to her. 

“You’re a lot stupider than you look. First you try to cheat me and then you point a gun at me. Some would say you have a fucking death wish.” You said, not worried in the slightest about the situation. You had the situation handled. You just liked to play with your toys one last time before you tossed them. 

“Look, I don’t have the money, okay? If you would give me time I could get it for you. You’re not the only one I owe money to!” He was frustrated and scared. The man next to him, Todd,  looked ready to run as he watched the scene unfold. 

“Oh, Johnny, are you in bed with someone else?” You asked, feigning offense as you put your hand over your heart. 

“Who?” Gabby asked him. 

“Me.” It was your turn to draw your gun and point as you whipped to the side to see two men. You lowered it slightly when you saw Mick. The other man you hadn’t seen before. He was fucking hot though. The tattoos, the laid back demeanor. Now what not the time.

“Mick?” You said his name, waiting for him to explain what the fuck was going on. 

Gabby kept her gun on Johnny, making sure he didn’t try to run. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” You asked Mick. 

“This is Rio.” Is all he said, motioning toward his friend. You heard about Rio in passing, but nothing that ever concerned you. You kept to your side of the city and he kept to his.

“We’re here because these pieces of shit owe me money and we caught word that they were trying to leave town.” Rio said as he glared in their direction before looking at you again. You didn’t miss the way his eyes roamed you up and down. 

“Well, he owes me money too. Get in line.” You sassed. You didn’t want to be doing this right now. You tucked your gun back in your jeans knowing they weren't going to hurt you.

“Mmm, I think I should be getting paid first.” Rio said, making your blood boil. Who the fuck did he think he was?

“Well I was here first so wait your damn turn.” You crossed your arms. 

He stepped closer to you, a small smirk forming on his lips. 

“Why don’t we ask them who they’re going to pay first?” He suggested and you both turned to look at the two men. You were pretty sure they were about to piss themselves at the attention now on them from both of you. 

“Seems like we’re not getting paid.” You confessed. You already knew it wasn’t going to happen on your way over here. If they were planning on skipping town and laying low in this shitty place, they barely had a few hundred to their names each. Nothing that could touch the thousands they owed you, and who knows how much they owed Rio.

“Well, if that’s the case, I can take these two off your hands.” He said and you scoffed.

“I can do it just fine, thank you.” You bit back. It was always the same shit, people thinking you couldn’t handle your own because you were a woman. Like you couldn’t get dirty.

“Maybe you can share then, mama.” He offered. You bit your lip. You looked to Mick who seemed amused but he nodded his head at you, silently vouching for Rio. You then turned to see the men practically shaking now. 

“There are two of them…” You trailed off and Rio smirked. 

“Fuck you!” Johnny yelled. 

“Rock, paper, scissors? Whoever wins gets Johnny.” You suggested. Rio shook his head and laughed. 

“You’re savage, I like that. But I’ll let you take him.” You were surprised at Rio’s words but you smiled. 

“I’ll shoot you before you even get a chance!” Johnny yelled. You kept your eyes locked on Rio’s, now having a little more respect for him. And finding him suddenly more attractive. 

“Your magazine is empty.” You said, not bothering to break your stare from Rio. He looked pleasantly surprised at your words. 

“Wha-what? No it’s not.” He stumbled over his words. You had it on good authority that Johnny and his buddy got into an altercation a few days ago, resulting in a shootout. Of course you were just betting, but, you figured if he already used all his bullets, there was no way he’d spend what little money he had left to buy more. Besides, the gun was threatening enough. At least enough to get out of town without any problems. But he forgot to factor you in. He was counting you out and people usually regretted it. 

“Really? Then shoot me.” You finally turned to him raising your arms from your sides. He swallowed hard at your words. 

“Go on, do it. Sure, Gabby here would put a bullet in your head as soon as you pulled the trigger, but at least I’d be gone, right?” You taunted him as you stepped closer to him. His hand was shaking. You knew it was a bit reckless to put all your eggs in one basket, stupid to go off a hunch that he was out of bullets. But that's just how you operated. And besides, the way he was acting, well it was a dead giveaway in itself that you were right. 

“It’s okay, Johnny. You tried.” Is all you said before you were close enough to snatch the gun out of his hands before he even knew what was happening. 

“Run and I’ll shoot you in the legs.” Gabby said as the two men started to back up. They stopped at her words. 

You released the magazine and showed it to Rio just for fun. Empty. You even made a show of checking the chamber but nothing. You smirked. You loved being right. Rio nodded his head in approval. 

“Shall we get this over with?” You asked him. 

Thirty minutes later, you and Rio were walking out of the building. Gabby and Mick taking care of the bodies for you both. Weirdly enough, they seemed to be getting along quite well. 

“Have to say, you were kind of a badass back there.” He said as you two stopped walking once you got outside. 

“Kind of?” He laughed. 

“Okay, okay. You were a badass in there.” You smiled at his correction. 

“And you were alright, I did get here faster than you.” You pointed out. 

“Was getting ready for a date before I showed up here.” His words were the last puzzle piece. You had already sorted out that Rio was most definitely the man Mick was trying to set you up with. 

“Yeah, a date with me.” You said. 

“Wait, you were who Mick was talking about?” He asked confused but he was still smiling. 

“It would seem so.” 

“But how did you know?” 

“Because you’re exactly my type.” You refrained from saying you never really had a type but you most certainly did now. He smirked at you.

“Well, how about a late dinner?” He asked. You were pleased he still wanted to go out with you after everything that just happened. 

“You read my mind.”

[imgoingtocrash]

Made of Iron, Born of Fire: The Fanmix 

by @imgoingtocrash

Listen on Spotify and 8tracks

Read the series on Ao3

AKA: A labor of love for @savvysass’s birthday!!!!

What can I say that hasn’t already been said because we’re both incredibly sappy people in our Author’s Notes? Writing this series with you has brought me so much joy in the last two years, and I never could have hit over 100k words without you. Here’s to whatever we write next in the series...and all of the WIPs we’re working on right now...and only god knows what’s next for us personally and professionally...and most importantly, to you on your Birthday. Thank you for being such a good friend, in both fandom and outside of it. I’m so, so thankful to know you and love you. 🥰

Director’s Cut Below, because we all know I love talking about this series, and yes, that does extend to why I picked these songs. (And also maybe because these song choices only make sense in my brain and hopefully Savannah’s?? Who knows! Feel free to ask questions if you want but let’s be honest this series and fanmix are most importantly for us, because we love the series so dang much.)

My Wildest Dreams by Ron Pope

I spoke in riddles and in rhymes, but my time with you has taught me to simplify, you’re not quite what I pictured you would be, you’re better than my wildest dreams.

We’ve talked about this one before, and I’LL TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN!!!! Ron Pope is so good imo, and this song wowowow the father-child feels, but especially with Tony and newborn Peter a la A Foreign Feeling and A First Time For Everything.

Big & Scared by Raleigh Ritchie

I want to be better for you, let me do that now, you’re my favorite human, so you should be prepared, I’ll help you get through it, when you’re big and scared

We’ve mentioned Tony’s thoughts about legacy multiple times by now, and I think this song really represents Tony looking forward to the person Peter could be become and that “breaking the cycle” mentality of supporting Peter even when he’s not a perfect father.

Legacy of Sadness by Ron Pope

irrational as it may seem I guess I’m sorry, even though I know that none of it’s my fault, it is easier for me to count my blessings, than to cry for every single thing we’ve lost

I have 0 shame putting these two songs by Ron Pope almost back to back because they’re the opening and closing of an album dedicated to his child like...it’s so perfect for Tony and this theme of reflection on who he is and who Peter will become/is becoming and all that entails.

this is me trying by Taylor Swift

They told me all of my cages were mental, so I got wasted like all my potential, and my words shoot to kill when I'm mad, I have a lot of regrets about that

I wrote something...very sad but also soft recently??? and this is for That it’s about pre-CW Pepperony being separated and the road to them trying to come back together including Tony working on himself and I love it!!! It hurts really good!!! This whole song is perfect for it and I can’t wait until people get to read it.

Be Good When I’m Gone by Four Year Strong

I'm sorry I can't stop to listen, but I've got so much to do and I've got some place to be, the house looks like the aftermath of a hurricane, I hope it stays that way

Tony being a busy parent but doing his best to make time for Peter in his life and making that time count has been something super important to illustrate to us, especially the transition from being a CEO to being a superhero and how that changes how Peter sees Tony’s absence over time.

I Won’t Back Down by Johnnyswim, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and Penny and Sparrow

Tony puts on the original version by Tom Petty in Home Is Where The Heart Is, but I think this cover has a very slow, emotional undertone that’s really great too. The interludes, if you didn’t catch it, have all been featured in a fic previously.

Let It Matter by Johnnyswim

So if it matters let it matter, if your heart's breaking let it ache, catch those pieces as they scatter, know your hurt is not in vain

Pepper in Never Tell Me The Odds ALL DAYYYYY. She’s the emotional rock of that fic (and of our Ironfam TBH) and it’s all because she allows herself to feel her feelings and encourages the Stark boys to do so as well.

Simmer - Acoustic by Hayley Williams

And if my child, needed protection, from a fucker like that man, I’d sooner gut him, cause nothing cuts like a mother

Post-Home Is Where The Heart Is...y’all know Pepper’s not that mad about what happened to Obie. Also just Pepper when someone hurts her family?? I always write it as her sort of putting all of her emotion into something she can control and doing it well, so, this song is all about that.

Tightrope by Nia Hendricks

one step after another, keep holding on to each other, don’t look back, move on and let go, that’s how you walk on a tightrope

Pepperony trying to navigate their relationship and the insanity of superhero stuff and also co-parenting. It’s all excellent, I love them so much, I enjoy writing it so much!!!!

Dancing With Your Ghost by Sasha Sloan

Never got the chance, to say a last goodbye, I gotta move on, but it hurts to try, how do I love, how do I love again?

This song is tilted towards romance, but if you’ll remember, we’re a Pro-Tony Survives Endgame AU series, so it’s not about THAT...but well...Infinity War sure will hit something fierce for certain non-romantic relationships in this series, huh?

The Bones by Maren Morris

Call it dumb luck, but baby, you and I, can't even mess it up, although we both try, no, it don't always go the way we planned it, but the wolves came and went and we're still standing

Post-Endgame Ironfam!!! Tony and Pepper married with their kids, their family and HAPPY...THIS IS WHY WE DO ALL OF THE ANGST...FOR A FAMILY...WE LOVE THEM

Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas

Considered Pepper and Peter’s ‘song’, as it’s referenced multiple times in the series, and was one of the bigger solidifying moments of their mother-son relationship as a whole.

Mundane by Hardcastle

And I’ve been sinking into silence, dwelling on my thoughts, and in these months, I haven’t felt that most conversations have left me anything but blue

Peter’s selective mutism was something very special to us when we originally had the idea, and making sure we talk about it and utilize it in the right way is something we’re still working on, particularly with the Therapy Fic we’re brainstorming atm.

survivin’ (One Eyed Jack’s Session) by Bastille

What can I say? I'm survivin', crawling out these sheets to see another day, what can I say? I'm survivin', and I'm gonna be fine, I'm gonna be fine, I think I'll be fine

Spoiler Alert: Peter’s not fine, like, a decent amount of the time. But he’s sure trying, and we love him for that.

Jacob from the Bible by Jake Wesley Rogers

Mama, don't worry, it took me years, to say I'm sorry, to see your tears, Mama, forgive me, I grew up too fast, but it's not on you, it's in the past

Mostly part of Peter growing up to become a hero and realizing what his parents--particularly Pepper--have gone through for him to become the person he is today, but that sometimes he still doesn’t feel like he’s making them proud enough.

Compassion Is a German Word by To Kill A King

Don't be so arrogant, you ain't no different to anyone I've met, we're all the heroes in our own film, or maybe the villain in someone else's

Spider-Man being an excellent superhero boi!!! Being kind and good!!! We love it!! Also, I put a TKAK song on...a LOT of my playlists, because I think they’re great.

brutal by Olivia Rodrigo

And I'm so sick of seventeen, where's my fucking teenage dream?, if someone tells me one more time, "Enjoy your youth", I'm gonna cry

I mean...this song is such a Teenage Mood...I had to do it...

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning by Frank Sinatra

So, I had this cute little scene in my head that went with this song for SO LONG but there wasn’t really anything for it to fit into so...yeah that’s part 2 of Savannah’s Birthday Gift, a little soft Baby Peter drabble. Fluffy Goop from top to bottom. That can be read here.

Home by Phillip Phillips

Just know you're not alone, 'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

...I know it’s not original, okay? It’s found family, it’s great, I don’t care!

Comes and Goes (In Waves) by Greg Laswell

And this part was for her, and this part was for her, this part was for her, does she remember?

This song is good family angst in general BUT these specific lyrics made me think of Mary and that they never forget her in their lives despite the other stuff going on (because we refuse to let them).

I Have Made Mistakes by The Oh Hellos

I have made mistakes, I continue to make them, the promises I've made, I continue to break them, and all the doubts I've faced, I continue to face them, but nothing is a waste if you learn from it

No one in the Ironfam is perfect, but they all do their best to try and grow even when they’re scared they’ll never be able to. The ups and downs are all par for the course of this series to us.

Easy Days - Demo by Bastille

Cause I don’t wanna fall back again, back into the easy days, everything was so simple then, little fires burned away

Strife is a part of life, and the family in this fic growing through their loss and struggles and moving ahead as a unit to get to a better place is super central to making the fic what it is...but it’s easy for them to remember the old days before being superheroes and wishing it was simple again.

North by Sleeping At Last

Let the years we’re here be kind, be kind, let our hearts like doors open wide, open wide, settle our bones like wood over time, over time, give us bread, give us salt, give us wine

The way Tony went from feeling so alone to having an entire built family that’s so full of love and everything he never dreamed of...*screams into my pillow* I love this series so much thank you and good night!!!

[ofmikaelsonshope]

Five years, her daughter was been on this Earth. The Christmas lights twinkling as a small child plays with new toys under a Christmas tree. The twenty-three-year-old had her own place for about three years now, Addy learned how to climb trees outside in the backyard and had her first slumber party with Eliza under the stars last summer where Hope made sure they had more fun than just the babysitting that Katherine’s nanny, Casie gives Addy and Eliza normally. Hope found herself a little job at a baker that she does two times a week to give Eliza and Addy some friend time without Hope hovering like a worried parent. Klaus had dropped off a car full of gifts, no one knows he has a daughter as no one remembers her but him. Addy had new toys and Hope had actual food in the fridge that wasn’t just enough for her daughter. It is a relief when her dad showed up when Addy was two years old, the house only really having a small amount for Addy at the time but he threw money around and made it home.

Holidays are hard for her, she can’t swallow down the wonder of what her friends are doing this year and what gifts they got and from who. Hope would find out later when she heads to the Grill when her father shows up and listen to her friends talk about everything. Once a month, the super squad gets together and has breakfast, Hope had joined in by sitting far away eating breakfast by herself listening to them talk even if it hurts when they are done eating and say goodbyes. 

❝Addy,❞ Hope says setting her coffee cup down onto the coffee table. When the green-eyed child finally can break her attention from the brand new doll, Hope tells her. ❝When grandpa comes by tomorrow, you need to thank him.❞

A soft whine of displeasure at her mother’s request, ❝I know mommy.❞ As if she can’t remember to use manners. It was more annoying her mother always reminding her when she knows it all by now. 

Raising a leader was hard work because Hope holds out hope in being able to go home someday and when that day comes, Addy won’t be like Eliza because the daughter of the Alpha is a big role and it is one she needs to be taught into from day one. Hope remembers sitting in meetings with her mother once a month coloring a picture and always found it amazing how her mother could take control of a crowd full of screaming wolves without raising her voice. I want to be just like her when I grow up. How far she fell from grace when some 90 some year old vampire murders her mother. Getting up, placing a kiss to her daughter’s hair before going to the kitchen. Flour, eggs, and milk on the counter, pan on the stove and pam. Four pancakes are done when the doorbell rings and magic shuts things off as her daughter goes to hid in another room (she assumes) like always when a doorbell rings in case, it was someone dangerous. A magical signal down pat between the two of them to know if Addy was safe to come out. 

Only she smells something before her mother and is hiding behind a couch this time and that will be a trouble later. Addy sits down, back leaning against the couch listening.

Door comes swinging open and Hope feels the house shake firmly once at who it was, a few glass items crack but a magical fix will save. ❝Landon?❞

❝Hope? Hope Andrea Mikaelson...❞ All the images pieced together when he died the last time and suddenly his mind was an open book. It was what he was going for each time he died, hoping to uncover the mystery girl. No one could prepare him for knowing what his name sounded like on her lips during sex, no one could prepare him for knowing the sound of her in pain when he died the first time came to his ears either and it made him keep going to search for this one that he swears he knows just never knew how. How he had shared a Milkshake with her. Peanut butter blast, whipped cream on the bottom. His words to her when he would serve her at the grill. How she had flirted back and the way it felt to dance with her the first time. A box of cookies from Lizzie, who had demanded to be present in some way (because she knew for a long time someone was missing, knew her name but sided with her twin figuring the tribrid was dead). 

Fuck, just fuck. She has no words for this moment but a silent nod, knowing he wouldn’t go away as she lets him inside her home.  ❝Ignore the mess.❞ It was messy but it was toys from a child, something she certainly hadn’t had before because Landon would have noticed.

Stepping inside, Landon feels like his heart drops to his stomach seeing all of the toys and the smell of baked food hitting the air. ❝I could come back later. It’s a holi...❞ He is interrupted with a quick no from a tribrid.

Small fourthbred jumping from behind the couch, wild dark hair running toward a phoenix and nearly knocking him onto his ass in shock. Magic calls family, phoenix father can be smelled on his skin and she was too excited to wait for her mother to call her out of hiding. 

Landon is shocked, unable to figure it out until he catches it, a scent that only he would know 9okay others might know it as well). His blood, his..fuck. He finds blue eyes and with the tears that are in a tribrid’s eyes, it is enough of an answer. ❝I’m staying.❞ For his daughter, for his life and well, promising Josie to help her run the boarding school was only when he didn’t have a child out there. ❝If you let me.❞ A Christmas miracle to finally find family even if the anger is so deep at himself and her for missing everything. Did she know when she jumped into Malivore? Did she know when she got out of Malivore and left town after getting a peanut butter blast from him? Had she even tried to lift the curse of wiped memories from everyone’s mind? So many questions.

Pancakes, cookies, light chatting with his daughter leads him to end up playing tea party with a crown on his head and fake tea water in his cup. Adelina, he learned was her name but she goes by Addy. This child was like her mother, knew how to play people to get what she wants with batted eyelashes and a pouty lip that makes him melt. How could he tell her now? It’s finding out that grandpa Klau was alive and many questions just keep adding up and nothing in his favor.

Around two, for a child-like her a nap was needed after such a fun day. How Addy climbs into her mother’s arms, the soothing voice of tribrid whispering stories about her friends. Landon listening in from the door and it was like this tribrid had always been born to be a mother. How nature it was for her to slipe away once green eyes closed for good for a few hours

In the kitchen, talking about everything that was Addy besides what happened, where his daughter was born or what time of day. Anything deep about the first few hours of Addy’s life was shut down with changing to talk about Addy now. Landon missed everything from the first kick to seeing his child take her first breath of air.

❝I missed everything,❞ Landon whispers, green eyes finding the table that was cleaned of their plates. ❝I’m...sorry.❞

Sorry doesn’t make up for it but then again, it isn’t his fault. Reaching out to touch his face like she once did only for him to wince at the contact, ❝Was just going to show you.❞

Regret happens the moment the images of coldness, wet, how fingers shook the whole time that the minute old infant was being laid on her mother’s chest and from his view all he can see is a perfect shot of her face. The body of the baby so thin and when he noticed a tribrid’s fingers, legs, everything really felt like she was too thin, too cold, too along in this world. How he watched through Hope’s eyes as blood coats her thighs, the old cabin’s floor and he got to see the moment the lights went out for her with a newborn crying out into the early morning hours for her mother.

How when Hope woke it was a burning fire in her belly and a small nick of her daughter’s finger helped for a second of relief. How magic kept them warmer after that. He watched in horror what his child did to the tribrid, how she went from living to die because of him not wearing a condom one time. How much love was there and then he sees hope witih Elena? He had met Elena several times over the years but the one that saved his child and the mother of the child was not Elena Gilbert by any means.

By the time that Hope pulled away and let images fade, they both are crying. Maybe in a different life, their daughter would have been born healthy and strong and she wouldn’t have died. Maybe if he had fought harder to get his memories back he would have been there to hold his child and keep her warm.

Not a Merry Christmas but then again, when was it ever?

[redhothxchimama]

Okay...sad drabble...in game scenario??? Here’s my cringe. I’m gonna try to NOT make this very long.

So, at some point, Kris meets her in the city and she introduces herself. Explains a bit about herself and who she is and what she does. She even tries to shoo Kris away because ‘hey you’re too young to be hanging around this part of the city you may have gotten yourself lost’.

If she’s constantly questioned by the player, she’ll eventually begin to ask Kris questions too.

“You know addisons?” “I used to talk to the ones that are pretty popular down town.” “I dated one, you know? We stopped talking. Don’t worry about who heheh.”

No no. Not Spamton. -coughs- yellow.

Eventually she gets a little quiet with Kris. Unless she’s prodded a few more times.

“You’ve heard of him, right? He’s different. I can tell, you’ve met him.” “---yeah. Him. He’s...hard to be around, right? A lot of his friends started to think that, too.” “...I see. You’re going to meet him at his...shop? I really didn’t know he was still around. Or...that he had a shop.”

“...can  you give him something from me?”

Kris waits as she asks them a request. 

“Tell him that Phanta says hello. You don’t have to come back and tell me if he said anything. I just want him to know if-...”

She trails off and after that, insists that she has to get back to work. After that, she won’t reply to Kris. 

When Kris heads over to Spamtons shop, if they’ve spoken to Phanny, they have an option later on through the dialogue to say “Phanta”. 

Spamton looks shocked and says “Paola!?” using her first name, which is NOT a name that she told Kris, showing that he knows this woman personally. He responds along the lines:

[ OH BABY (little hearts in his eyes) we used to talk talk talk for [[ 2.99 a minute ]] SHE WAS ALWAYS kind to me, Kris. I CAN’T-----------------------------------------------------HOW DO I KNOW HER? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA ]

[ THAT mama was RED hot. A REAL [[ deal for the low low price ]] - - - -- HAHAHHAA What ME? SHE was just a FRIEND A FRIEND A FRIEND ] 

[ BUT SOMETIMES I---- ]

He looks down and looks confused for a moment, void of any emotion or thought. Quietly, Kris can hear:

[ I hope she’s okay. ]

before reverting back to his usual, chaotic self, and trailing off to another topic. Kris cannot ask about her again.

If Kris returns to Phanta, she’ll finally talk to them.

“Hey kid! I thought you’d be gone f’good.” “Wait...did ya talk to...him?” “.........I see.”

She can shrug it off and Kris can walk away, or they can continue to prod her about the topic. Eventually she’ll finally explain.

“We knew each otha a long while ago. Before the whole...BIG shot, stuff.” “I met my ex when he and a bunch of his friends came to our building one night for drinks and fun!” “They were celebrating something.” “...I had to work at their table that night. I hit it off with the yellow one, and we started seeing each other. But...weeks into it, we just couldn’t make it work.” “We had a messy break up, as you kids would say. Stopped talking. It was...real ugly.” “But then one night, the same group came back to our place. I felt like...hey, ya kiddin’? Is this a joke? Why would he come BACK here. He knew I didn’t wanna see him again!” “One of my friends worked their table instead. I stayed far away, and asked my boss if he’d let me work the door that night.” “I’d been out there for a while and...then when the night got a lot quieter, I heard a voice call to me. It was...ya know...him.”

A brief silence. 

“...he apologized for them being there. He said he knew about me an’ his friend and didn’t want me to feel nervous or anything.” “...he really seemed genuinely polite about it. He even sat out there with me to talk and laugh and keep me company while I sat outside in the cold by myself in the dead of night.” “Eventually we had to close, and he left with his friends...but...we continued to stay in touch after that night.” ”We even met up a few times to have lunch, or dinnah...catch up. Was real swell. I think, for a while, he was my only friend outside of my job.” Her expression changes to one of deep sadness.

“He was very different from them, kid. His dreams...he really wanted to be the big shot he was always goin’ on about. He told me about it all the time. A man of passion.” “But then one day...things just...got different. REAL different. He was different.”

She looks back to Kris and lets out a sigh.

“...NO one talked to him anymore. I didn’t either. I couldn’t. Because the last time I saw him he...was just...so desperate. He wasn’t the same man. I felt like I didn’t know him anymore.”

A long period of silence is shared between Kris and Phanta before she gives a shake of her head and shoos them away.

“...anyway, this is all adult stuff, huh. Don’t let me bore you kid. Go on and have fun, just stay out of trouble.”

“---oh and...thank you. Means a lot that you’d help out a stranger like me.”

As Kris starts to walk away she calls out one more time.

“Hey um...did he finally become that big shot he’s always gone on about? I heard othawise but.....I like to believe othawise, too.”

Kris says nothing, and then walks away. After that, you can no longer talk to Paola unless you restart and do a new route. 

[taecalikook]

(Not) Just Friends : Drabble #1

summary : morning with your new, silly boyfriend slash best friend with apparent morning wood.

{friends to lovers! au, fuckboy! au, fratboy! au}

pairing : jeon jungkook x reader (side kim seokjin)

word count : 1.349

check the (Not) Just Friends one shot here and my masterlist here!

=======================================

“Good morning, pumpkin. Are you awake?”

You slowly open your eyes, blinking to adjust to the brightness of sunray from your apartment window. Yet, the only thing you can see now is Jungkook’s beautiful doe eyes, the creases on its corner that are palpable whenever he is smiling, peering closely to your own. A soft smile is painted on his lips, as his slim fingers reach out to a few strands of hair that hinder the beautiful view of a girl he can finally call his girlfriend—you. You answer with a low hum, clearing out your throat and sending him a warm smile as well.

Yesterday, right after Jungkook finished his team group homework, he pleaded to come and stay in your apartment for the night. You were thinking Jungkook was going to go to a party—since it’s Friday Night and Jungkook always goes to party every Friday Night. Even with a committed relationship with him, you don’t want to assume everything is going to change, and you don’t really want it to. But since Lia always goes back to her home every Friday, you did hope at least you could see Jungkook today even for a short while. So when he wanted to stay at your place for the night, you couldn’t be more happy. He did mention Taehyung wanting to choke on him for bailing on their party, but Jungkook mentioned that it's not an issue as Taehyung just needed to suck it. 

And you were in a way, nervous. There were just the two of you in the apartment, so you actually expected Jungkook to be a horndog he actually is the second he entered the door, but he was surprisingly very civil throughout the night—satisfied with only holding you close with occasional kisses while watching movies and eating takeouts. You should be happy that Jungkook was thoughtful and kind, but you can’t deny that you were having mixed feelings too. Is it possible that he just didn’t want to do it with you?

But it’s an unfound thoughts and sounded very idiotic even in your head, so you quickly shrug the thought away and focus on the man in front of you right now.

“Jungkook, what are you doing today?” You whispers, caressing the side of his cheeks. Jungkook gives your hand a scarce kiss before answering.

“I don’t know, maybe there will be a practice today. And I think I need to go back home after that. Mom is already asking where his son went.” Jungkook smiles, still unable to keep his good hands off of you. “What about you? Anything you need to do for today?”

Your lips pursed, and Jungkook can’t help but to pay a large amount of attention to such simple action. “Hmm.. I have a taekwondo practice today. There's a competition coming up and I was appointed to join, so there’s this extensive training nearing the competition day that we need to do.” You smile, yet it doesn’t reach Jungkook’s eyes. Literally twenty seconds long silence before Jungkook opens his mouth. 

“Will Seokjin be there?”

You sigh, rolling your eyes while shifting your body away from him. “Jungkook—“

Jungkook grins, holding you against scooting further away from him. “I am just asking, love. It’s not an issue.” He defends, suddenly launching a kiss on the tip of your nose, halting whatever irritation that you might feel. “Can I visit you, though? I just want to see you practice though. Are you really that good? If you suck can I boo you from the bleachers?”

You scoff at his teasing, but still greatly enjoying the light banter with him. “Of course! And then you would definitely see your girlfriend rooting for the opposite team in your next competition, baby.”

Jungkook chuckles, before moving to send light kisses to all around your face, his finger skillfully tickling both sides of your body until you erupt to a loud laughter. “We just don’t want it, do we?”

Another ten minutes laying next to each other, Jungkook silently holds you close, humming to your hair when he settles on the crook of your neck. “I am so happy you are here, Y/N.” You nod while stroking his arms, enjoying the familiar warmth whenever your best friend slash boyfriend holds you close. 

“I didn’t get to say this before, but mom really wants to meet you again.” He whispers to your ear, and you suddenly feel a little bit nervous as you know how important it is to him. “I told her. We got together and everything.”

As hard as it might be to believe, Jungkook is a 100% family man—even borderline a mama's boy, as you have always mocked him before. He always wants his girlfriend to meet his mother first. His ex-girlfriend refused, and frankly it could be the only time you can understand that bitch. It of course could be a lot to take in to meet the family with such an early stage of a relationship.

Even with the rejection, his mother took it upon herself to meet his son’s girlfriend. Jungkook’s mother is probably the kindest, yet the strictest mother you have ever known, and it was not a secret that she disliked her. The ex girlfriend even went home crying because of his mother’s clear dislike of her attitude during that dinner. You vividly remembered Jungkook stressing over his mother asking him to break up with her the moment she went out of the door. 

Jungkook can feel the circles you form on his chest clothed in white t-shirt. A trait he recognizes will appear whenever you are nervous. “I’m scared, Jungkook. Will she hate me?” 

Jungkook scoffs, letting go of the hug just so he can see you right on the eye. “Is that even a question, Y/N? Of course not! She likes you very much. If she doesn’t like the girl who basically helped her nerd-ass bulliable son less suicidal then he already was, I don’t know who she’ll like. If she’s disappointed, I think it would be the fact that it took too long for us to finally be together.”

You can’t help but to smile at his comforting words. You are doubtful it is true, but you appreciate the kind gesture. “I’d love to. And somehow, I do miss meeting your family.” Jungkook can’t hold a wide smile at that. You know how important his family is to him, and you are happy if it makes him happy.

But you’re not done as the mushy feeling between you is already too long to stay. “Been too long hanging out with your snob ass, I start to lose faith. I probably need to see your family roast you again.” You unexpectedly tease, booping his cute button nose. 

Jungkook frowns, folding his arms on his chest. “You’re a meanie! Well, probably I should just drop the plan of making you my very, very special and delicious pancakes for breakfast today.” He huffs, jokingly fake irritation. Well, one thing you could not deny is Jungkook is a slightly better cook than you, and he makes the best pancake ever—or maybe it’s just you since everyone you know has tried hated them.

You chuckle devilishly, and then move to trap his body between your legs, settling right to cradle on his hips—ignoring the hard-on pushing your lower stomach. You can easily detect how Jungkook froze, breath hitched and his pupil dilating at your sudden provocative movement. You smirk, somehow satisfied that he is greatly affected by such small action. So you instead give him a short smooch, moving your other leg to let your foot touch the floor and exiting your bedroom like nothing happened. 

Jungkook hisses like he is in a deep pain. God, this is morning, and he actually packs more than he is proud of. What was he thinking?! You are such a tease! Yet he knows that he doesn’t actually mind. He loves it, actually—since nearly everything you do entices him.

“I—I'll make the pancakes!” He quickly scurries, following your steps out of the room.

===============

Thanks for reading, and please wait for the next drabble!

Drabble #2 = Taekwondo practice with Seokjin... and Jungkook?

Drabble #3 = First fight with idiot boyfriend and the dreaded family meeting

[taetaesbaebaepsae]

#6. Rival AU. Baekhyun. Let's get this fucking bread.♡

A/n: HERE WE GO, anything for my daddy ;) @illneverrecover

Compass

Summary: You and Byun Baekhyun are soccer coaches for your children’s rival soccer teams, and you can’t stand him. At least, until you get lost on a camping trip together.

Warnings: Sex in the woods, public sex, unprotected sex, oral sex (male receiving) P H E W

Word Count:1626 (drabble my ass)

You see him while your daughter is running for the bus and you’re chasing her and you want to scream.

It’s already been a hell morning getting your daughter, Ellie, ready for the soccer team camping trip, and you knew the soccer coach, Baekhyun, would be there, but somehow it just made the day so much worse.

You’re not even sure what it is about him that infuriates you, if it’s his stupid innuendo during practice or how he barked at you for being too close to the sidelines during coaching or his stupid handsome face….but he makes your blood boil.

His little boy, Byungwoo, comes running up to say hello to your daughter and she grins and hugs him.

You finally crack a smile as you approach. Byungwoo is sweet as sugar and loves playing with your little girl. He cried for hours when he accidentally kicked her once during practice, causing a bruise.

How he got to be so sweet with a dad like Byun Baekhyun, you’d never know.

It doesn’t help that your daughter isn’t even on his team and she adores Baekhyun, going on and on about how she wishes she could be on his team instead and what a great coach he is.

You’re her coach, damnit, and also her mother so she should prefer your team.

“Well, hello there, cutie,” Baekhyun drawls, and he winks at you when Ellie squeals as he picks her up.

You scoff and roll your eyes, ruffling Byungwoo’s hair as he looks up at you. “Been practicing your goalie techniques?” You ask, and he gives you a big gap-toothed smile.

The bus is packed already, except for two seats, and Ellie and Byungwoo take one, giggling and talking.

“Uh, Ellie, don’t you wanna sit with Mama?”

Ellie links her arm with Byungwoo’s. “No! I’m sitting with Byung and you can’t make me move!”

You sigh, knowing a sure-fire way to make her throw a tantrum is to separate them.

Baekhyun is already sitting in the empty seat, and he smirks at you and pats the seat next to him.

“Everyone aboard!” The bus driver yells and the bus lurches forward, depositing you directly on Baekhyun’s lap.

“I meant sit next to me, but I’m not complaining,” he murmurs in your ear.

You smack him on the chest, which backfires because it’s surprisingly firm, and scramble to sit upright next to him.

He just chuckles and your blood is boiling, you hate hate hate him and how your heart is racing.

You make it to the campsite without incident, and everything goes fine until someone suggests a hike and two of the other chaperones take the kids up ahead while you’re still struggling to put on your hiking boots.

You’re not what one would call “outdoorsy,” but you figured you could wing it, just like everything else.

Turns out, hiking boots are a pain in the ass, but not as big a pain as Byun Baekhyun, because he ends up trying to help you while also endlessly teasing you.

“Are your feet really this big?”

“Shut up! These boots are broken!”

By the time you get them tied, after begrudgingly accepting his help, the kids and other chaperones are nowhere to be seen, and you take off ahead, bitching at him the whole way.

“This is all your fault, you know. I was flustered from the bus and-”

“Flustered? Aw, cutie, I’m touched that you’re so affected by me.”

You look over at him and you hate his stupid smirk and his whole stupid handsome face and you’re stumbling over roots and trying to take a shortcut to get away from him.

He follows you silently other than a chuckle here or there, and soon enough, you’re hopelessly lost.

“Fuck!” You yell.

“I knew you had a dirty mouth,” he murmurs, right against your ear, and you almost trip over a root, twisting your ankle.

You’re hot and tired and frustrated and now your ankle hurts so you lash out.

“How can you have such a sweet kid and be such a bastard!”

You try to walk away on your wounded ankle and suddenly he heaves you over his shoulder.

You yelp and kick but he just firmly holds you there.

“Byungwoo’s mom ran off when he was six months old. I’m doing my best.” He says, quietly, and you go still.

“Ellie’s dad left when I was pregnant,” you mumble stubbornly. “Still no excuse for teasing me all the time.”

He sets you down against a tree, eyes flashing. “And why do you think I tease you all the time? Why do you think I always schedule our games in the same fields as yours? Why do you think I went on this stupid trip?”

“I dunno. Because you want to cause me suffering?” You mutter.

He’s standing too close and he smells good and you kinda want to disappear into the ground.

“Because I like you, dummy.”

Your mouth falls open. “You what now?”

He puts a hand on your face, caressing your cheek. “I like you. You’re fiery and sexy and you’re a great mom…and when I tease you, you get all cute and huffy…”

“I am not-”

He cuts you off with his mouth on yours and you let out a sound of protest before melting into him. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly your knees go weak when he slips his tongue into your mouth, one hand cupping your ass.

He moves his mouth to your neck and presses his hips up into yours, murmuring against your skin.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to kiss that smart mouth?”

“Was it that time I called you a motherfucker under my breath at the last game?” You breathe, trying to keep your composure.

He shakes his head, smiling. “Before that, when you shot me a bird behind Ellie’s back when I told you she should work on her footwork.”

“Her footwork is perfect!”

“It is now. You made her focus on it just to spite me.”

He’s trailing a hand up your shirt, fingertips on your ribcage, teasing under the edge of your sports bra and you’re shaking.

“Baek… we’re lost in the woods.”

“We’re not lost,” he murmurs, kissing your throat. “I once got chased through these woods by a crazy ex, I know exactly where we are.”

“Thank God for your whorish ways,” You snort, but it turns into a moan when Baekhyun gets his hand under your bra to brush his palm against your pebbled nipple.

“We could stay lost just a little while longer….” He twists your nipple between his fingers and you gasp.

You reach down to cup him through his jeans, he’s hard as diamond and he buries his face in your neck, moaning.

“Ah, cutie, I wasn’t planning to fuck you in these woods but if you do that…”

“Why not? The birds won’t tell.” You smirk, unbuttoning his jeans.

“Way to make a guy fall in love,” he says, looking down at your fingers slipping underneath his boxers, breath catching in his throat.

“Shut up.” You release him from his jeans and squat down to take his cock in your mouth and he braces against the tree, and he’s so loud you hope the kids are far away.

“Oh, fuck, I want to fill up that smart mouth…”

You come off him with a smile and a wink. “Next time.”

He looks at you almost awed. “I really am going to fall in love.”

“Shut up!” But you’re laughing and pulling your shorts and panties off.

You hop up into his arms and he slides inside you with ease, and you cry out when he starts fucking you hard and fast.

Your back will be scraped from the tree but you can’t bring yourself to care, he’s talking so much, moaning right into your ear.

“I’ve wanted you so badly, Y/n, in all those little shorts you wear, flashing your thighs at me…it almost made me angry. I thought about how I’d tease you until you were begging to be filled with my cock but you feel so fucking good, you-”

“I said shut up,” you breathe, and kiss him hard, rocking your hips against his, his pelvic bone slamming into your clit in just the right way, and he’s filling you so well, and you come almost in unison, both of you moaning into each other’s mouths, and you bite his lip so hard you taste blood.

You panic only for a moment, when it’s over, and when he lets you down he slides you down his body and kisses your jawline and suddenly you feel better, suddenly you feel like maybe it’ll all be okay, maybe he’s not like your ex-husband.

He’s all handsy and sweet on the way back to the camp, telling you how beautiful you are and how he’s going to take you out when you get back home, and when Byungwoo comes running up the hill and throws himself into his dad’s arms, you realize he’s nothing like your ex at all, and you’d misjudged him all this time.

When Ellie sneaks into him and Byungwoo’s tent later that night so that she can cuddle up to her best friend, you can’t help but smile when you see her little footprints.

You unzip the bag and Baekhyun looks up at you, with both kids draped over him, and beckons toward you with two fingers. You spend the night cuddled up in a pile, and from then on, you’re an inseparable foursome, even though he still tells you that you have a smart mouth every day.

You always respond, “Shut up,” and he’s always smiling when you kiss him.

[dandylion240]

🌟🔥☕🥀💎☁️ For Jonah + Ethan ;P x

🌟 When your OC loses all hope, who do they turn to first? What helps make them feel better? What calms them down and reassures them? Why?

Jonah: I turn to this guy (takes Ethan’s hands) he’s my support whenever things become too much for me to handle.

Ethan: you know I’d do anything for you right? 

Jonah: I do. I wish I could do the same for you.

Ethan: you do.

Jonah: (shakes head) I don’t  not really. I know you worry about putting too much stress on me.

Ethan: it’s not that I don’t want to come to you but...

Jonah: but you go to your dad when you need someone to destress with.

Ethan: I’m sorry I just...I won’t if it makes you feel bad

Jonah: no it’s okay. I understand. I want you to have someone you can go to when things get bad. You’re always there for me. It can’t be easy always being strong just don’t assume I can’t handle things. I’m here for you too.

Ethan: I’ll remember that. I promise.

More under the cut.

🔥 If your OC known for having temper tantrums? If not, what gets them really angry? What makes their blood BOIL? Is there anyway to calm them down or are they unstoppable? What are they like when they’re angry? Do they take it out on their loved ones?

Ethan: I don’t think I’ve ever seen you really angry. Hurt yes but not angry.

Jonah: No one has hurt my babies yet. If anyone does I’ll be the proverbial mama bear protecting her cubs. 

Ethan: I can see that. I’m the same way. No one is going to hurt my family. We worked to hard to get where we are and I’m not going to let anyone take that from us.

Jonah: you’re that way with your brother too. You were out there searching for him too

Ethan: fat lot of good that did though. I was looking in the wrong spot.

Jonah: you couldn’t have known. The point is you were doing what you felt you had to do. 

Ethan: I think that’s when I started to realize that you’re stronger than I thought you were. The way you were with your brother. Calming him down when the rest of us couldn’t.

☕ Give us one (or more if you feel like it) of your OCs deep dark secrets! Why do they keep it hidden? Spill the tea!

Jonah: squirms a bit uncomfortably beside Ethan.

Ethan: (taking his hand and kissing it) It’s okay sweetheart. I can guess. I’ve been awakened enough by your nightmares to know that you haven’t told me everything that happened to you while we were apart. What that man did to you. You don’t have to tell me. Just know that I’m here for you and your safe now.

Jonah: thanks I don’t know if I even know everything. It’s like a hole in my soul that opens when I sleep. I don’t want to remember or talk about it.

🥀 Has your OC ever been hurt by someone they love? Ever been betrayed? Abused? Attacked? Give me the angst! (if you’d like, write a short drabble about it!)

Ethan: I feel we’ve already answered this question.

Jonah: it’s a little different. I meant I was attacked and hurt but it wasn’t by anyone I loved. Just a creep who thought he owned me because I worked for him.

Ethan: you wouldn’t have been there if I hadn’t hurt you. If I had reacted differently to the news of you being pregnant than you wouldn’t have runaway like you did. It’s my fault you even in that place trying to make enough money for you and Eli to live on.

Jonah: that’s not your fault. I put myself in that situation.

Ethan: but I betrayed your trust and love.

Jonah: that’s all in the past. We’re together now. That’s all that matters.

💎 Does your OC collect anything? Is there a reason? When did they start and is it beginning to turn into a little bit of a hoarding issue? What do they do with their collection?

Jonah: I don’t think I collect anything.

Ethan: what about all that sheet music?

Jonah: I’m a musician. I need all of that.

Ethan: do you? All of it?

Jonah: well...it’s organized and it’s not all over the house. Besides you like my music.

Ethan: I do when you play for me.

☁️ What’s something your OC wishes they could forget? Why is this? Or, what is something that your OC has forgotten? (or do both!)

Jonah: I think it’s fairy obvious what I’d like to forget. That whole night when I was attacked. I’ve blocked most of out already but it still comes up at the worst times.

Ethan: you’re getting so much better though.

Jonah: I guess but...

Ethan: I know this whole thing with what happened to Evan has brought the nightmares back and you’ve been having panic attacks again.

Jonah: yeah they’ve gotten pretty bad. I’m sorry.

Ethan: you have nothing to be sorry for. 

Thank you for asking!

[shimmershaewrites]

Fourth Quarter, Chapter 1 (a Walking Dead story, Caryl AU).

Sorry.  I am so sorry, lol.

  Title:   Fourth Quarter

Rating:  M. 

Warnings:  adult language. 

Characters/Pairings:  Carol Peletier, Daryl Dixon, Sophia Peletier, original character, Jenny Jones, June Dorie, Pete Anderson, mention Morgan Jones and John Dorie, Luke, Carl Grimes, mentions of Judith Grimes, Tyreese Williams, Duane Jones, mention of Eastman, T-Dog, Axel. 

Prompt(s) used:  “Do you trust me?”    

Author’s Note:  inspired by a little drabble in my Across the Universe(s) drabble series—“Quit stalling.”  Apologies for the sucktacular title and the fact that I’m jumping off the deep end and starting another story.  Clearly, I’m losing it.  But whatever.  I made words.  So it’s a lose-win situation, lol.  Also, in case you didn’t notice, I brought over a couple of friends from Fear and I’m keeping my options open about bringing over more.  We shall see.  Anyway.  Fingers crossed this somehow breaks up the log jam that is currently the state of Waltzing.  I miss writing that story so freaking much. 

          Dr. Pete Anderson didn’t like kids. 

  Carol had it figured out within two seconds of meeting the man, his so-called secret.  His absolute, lip-curling distaste for the parade of little humans that were the King County clinic’s bread and butter was that apparent.  Hard to miss really and ironic considering.    

  Those frequently possessed of snotty noses and tiny hands that were somehow, some impossible way always sticky were both the bane of his existence and the source of much of his livelihood. 

  She couldn’t help but wonder how someone that couldn’t even be bothered to open up his heart to the frightened tears that inevitably came from being thrust into a place so cold and sterile and generally unwelcoming as their place of employment possessed one at all.  Most likely, she supposed, his chest was hollow and a big cavernous nothing occupied the space where the faulty organ should be.  Yes, most likely.  Too bad he worked every Monday.  As did she. 

  “Did somebody get me the goddamn labs I asked for?!” 

  The question yelled so near to her ear was all the warning Carol had before a mug of coffee was unceremoniously slammed down in front of her, causing her to flinch.  She watched with dismay as the bitter black brew sloshed over the ceramic edge, instantly soaking into the printed labs in question, and took in a deep breath in an effort to fortify herself for what she knew was coming.  Thankfully, her coworker stepped in to prevent her from falling onto her figurative sword.  

  “The printer’s jammed again, Sir.” 

  Jenny Jones was one of the most even-tempered individuals Carol had ever met.  Whether she was helping keep a toddler calm while they had a lost Flintstone vitamin fished out of their nose or explaining to a patient that body spray was not meant to be used internally via the rectum, she always wore the same placid expression.  She wore it now, even in the face of Dr. Anderson’s poorly reigned in rage at humanity at large.    

  “Thought the damn thing was fixed.” 

  “It was.  It isn’t now.  Noah’s working on it.” 

  “Who’s…know what?  Forget it.  I don’t care.  Just get me those labs.  Sometime today.”  With that, he stalked off to greet his next patient, continuing to grumble beneath his breath. 

  Finally, Carol felt like she could exhale, and she did, feeling a lot like a deflated balloon.  Or at least, the way she imagined a deflated balloon might feel.  “You’re too good to me.” 

  Jenny’s chair squeaked as she pushed it back from the desk.  Eyes brightened and lips twitching with humor, she replied, “You bring me cookies.  I would be crazy not to be.” 

  “Duane like the strawberry lemonade cookies?”   

  “Like them?” Jenny scoffed.  “That boy loved them.  At least the two his daddy let him have.  Morgan made me promise to get the recipe from you.  Told me to resort to blackmail if I had to.”  Shaking her head, she mused fondly, “That man.  He loves ya’ll’s cookies.” 

  “I’d worry about him if he didn’t.  Everybody loves Carol and Sophia’s cookies.”

                                                                                                                                                                                 Carol looked pointedly at her watch before returning their newcomer’s easy grin.  “Just get here when you can.”  June Dorie was a relative latecomer to the clinic staff, still an enigma in so many ways.  But she was capable, compassionate, and currently very much in love, and like Jenny before her?  Carol had relied on her instincts, welcoming her to cross that imaginary line separating coworker from friend.    

  Other than the precious pink blush belonging to only the happiest of newlyweds tinging her cheeks, June was unruffled by Carol’s teasing.  “Thank you.  I will.”  She did, however, wrinkle her nose at the sodden lump on the counter before her.  “What did I miss?” 

  Her answer came from the irate boss man himself.  “Where are my fucking labs?!”

  June winced.  “Happy Monday, huh?” 

  Carol grit her teeth to keep from letting a few choice words slip free.  Every Monday was a happy Monday when your least favorite doc was a Monday constant.  As if she needed more reason to hate them.  Not only that, the waiting room was starting to fill up, really fill up, right on cue.  Taking a page out of Jenny’s book, she took a deep, calming, let’s be zen breath, and pasted on what she hoped was a serene expression.  Unsurprisingly, she failed. 

  Sparing a second to stuff the ruined labs into the nearby shred box, Jenny dabbed at the mess left behind with a handful of Kleenex and shook her head.  “I see your wheels turning.  You’re on desk duty with Liza ‘til you quit plotting the good doctor’s demise.” 

  June smirked.  “Guess she’ll be out there forever then.” 

  “She might just be,” Jenny conceded.  “June?” 

  “Get the asshole his labs?” 

  “You said it.”   

        “And again!  We want to make Stevie and your parents proud!” 

  In unison, the entire sweaty, spent marching band groaned, and they groaned rather dramatically. 

  Perspiration prickling along his own scalp, the band director couldn’t even find it in himself to be mad.  Quite the contrary.  Depressing the button on the side of his megaphone, he blew out a long, drawn out groan of his own and deadpanned, “I felt that.  Take five everybody.” 

  “Five?!  But Mr. Fogler!” 

  “Alright, alright.  Fifteen and find some shade.” 

  Everybody scattered after that.  Almost everybody.  They needed no more prompting. 

  Sophia, however?  She stayed right where she was, sinking to the grass like a boneless slug bug and letting her eyes drift closed for a brief second.  She stifled a shriek when she felt something cold slither across the back of her exposed neck.  “What the…stop it, Carl.”  In spite of her grumbling, she gratefully took the bottle of water he held out in offering, tipping it back and taking a long swallow.  Shooting a wondering glance at the boy she’d long considered her best friend. 

  Carl dropped down beside her, mindful of the clarinet she’d cast almost carelessly aside.  He’d left his own snare drum where he stood in his haste to seek her out, and he stared at her now, his blue eyes hidden behind the dark lenses of his shades. 

  Sophia’s fingertips fluttered self-consciously over her freckled cheeks and the long auburn ponytail coiled carelessly atop her head.  “What?” 

  Carl’s lips remained zipped.  They merely curled in a barely even there smirk and he shrugged. 

  Sophia narrowed her eyes at him, wholly unconvinced of his truthfulness.  They’d known each other since they were both in pullups and the wait to get their respective drivers’ licenses was almost over.  Of course, he was lying.  Even if he was doing it without words.  “Carl Richard Grimes!” 

  “Did you just full name me?” 

  “I just full named you and I’ll do it again.”     

  “Ooooo.  I’m so scared.” 

  “Don’t be such a…”  Sophia floundered for a word adequate enough to express her frustration.  A good clean word because that’s the way her mama had raised her, but really.  None of them were very satisfying. 

  Carl laughed.  “You can’t do it, can you?”  

  “Know it all jerk.” 

  “But you’re my favorite Disney princess, Soph,” Carl said, snagging the forgotten water bottle from her hands and taking a swig of his own.  “Jude’s too.” 

  An unwelcome smile twitched at the edges of Sophia’s affected pout.  “Shut up.” 

  “Alright,” Carl agreed easily enough. 

  The silence didn’t last long, though.  He was back to his insufferable teasing before they’d had time enough to finish the water bottle between them, and that didn’t take long at all.  “Carl.  I mean it.  Stop.” 

  “Stop what?”  Snickering as he dodged her annoyed little fists, he feigned innocence, “I didn’t even say anything.” 

  “Yeah, well.  You didn’t have to.  Just spit it out.” 

  “You want to spit it out?  You really want me to?” 

   “Please,” Sophia huffed, leaning forward to wrap her arms protectively around her updrawn legs.  She steadfastly ignored Carl’s gaze as she waited for him to put his particular brand of Sophia-torture into words and it definitely wasn’t the sun heating her cheeks when she spit out her last little piece of pleading encouragement.  “Do.” 

  “This one time.  At band camp…” 

  “I swear to God, Carl,” Sophia muttered miserably.     

  “You know Mr. Fogler said shade right?  Not Cade.” 

      On the other end of the football field, the indirect source of Sophia Peletier’s current humiliation was sweating his balls off doing drills for a team he wasn’t sure he even wanted to be a part of.  And it showed. 

  Coach Williams’s deep voice carried, across the clashing bodies and sticky late summer heat.  “Mr. Phillips.  Do you or do you not want to be here?” 

  Hands braced on his hips, jersey clinging wetly to his heaving chest, Cade figured there was no pussyfooting around the truth.  That shit never did anybody no good.  “Presently?  No, Sir.  At least Satan’s ass crack would have shade.”

  Appreciative snickers swelled, rising and traveling from teammate to potential teammate like a wave, and Coach Williams showed a brief, scary flash of teeth before sobering up and making full use of his huge, intimidating linebacker build.  “That so?” 

  Cade knew better than to waltz right into that trap.  He’d become quite adept over the years of sidestepping trouble when it come looking, and until he proved otherwise, Coach Williams weren’t any different than any other coach or teacher.  So he clamped his mouth shut and dropped to give the man twenty unasked.  Or at least he tried to.  The man stopped him with a boot on his back before he got ten good pushups in, barking at the whole lot of them to take a long overdue break.  The grass felt prickly beneath his sweaty pits when his limp noodle arms gave out on him, but Cade didn’t care.  A bottle of orange Gatorade appeared out of thin air, and he’d guzzled nearly the whole thing before he bothered looking up to see where it actually came from. 

  A short, stocky black kid stared down at him, something like admiration on his face. 

  Heaving himself over onto his back with a groan, Cade muttered his gratitude and shielded his eyes from that look and the sun. Both of them were pretty damn blinding in their own way.  He recited a silent prayer that the boy, who he vaguely recognized as a freshman, would just fuck off and leave him alone.  Like most of his prayers, it went unanswered. 

  “I’m Duane.  You’re Cade.” 

  Forcibly swallowing the overwhelming urge to mock the kid right to his oblivious face, Cade merely grunted an affirmation and lifted his arm to get a better peek at him.  He felt an unexpected twinge of guilt when he took in the boy’s slumped posture.  “Running back right?” 

  “Like you.” 

  Hardly, but Cade kindly chose not to point it out.  Instead, he made small talk best as he knew how.  “Didn’t I hear you say your dad has his own martial arts place down on Main?” 

  “He’s partners with Mr. Eastman, but yeah.  You been there?” 

  “Nope, but I’ve thought about it.  Think you can talk him into cutting me a sweet deal?  Might be nice to learn different ways to kick some ass.”  Handy, considering he knew next to nobody in this one-horse town and in his experience?  It never took long for welcomes to be worn out.  He left that part unsaid, too. 

  “I…I don’t know.  But I think so.  I’ll have to see.” 

  “You get on that.” 

  “I will.” 

  “Hey, Water Boy.  Why don’t you shut your trap and do your damn job?” 

  Duane sighed and made to push himself to his feet, but Cade jerked him back down.  “Nah.  I got this.” 

  “You don’t have to.” 

  “Do you trust me?  We got us a deal, right?” 

  “Right.” 

  “K then.  Watch this.”  Cade winked, standing up and stretching to his full height.  “Hey, lazy asshole.  Why don’t you get your own fucking water?” 

      “Man, you been back in town, what?  Almost a month and I’m the only person knows it.  I’m not accusing you of hiding, but…” 

  Wiping his greasy hands on the red rag that never strayed far from his back pocket, Daryl virtually dared T-Dog to continue his train of thought.  T smartly refused to take the bait, dropping the subject and ambling on over to join him in admiring his handy work.

  “You trying to put those Gas Monkey dudes outta business.”    

  “Stahp.”   

  “You think I’m kidding?  I ain’t.  I knew you was good.  I just didn’t know you was this good.  And it ain’t even your day job.”  

  “Hear that, Boss?” Axel oh-so-helpfully piped up.  “It ain’t ya day job.” 

  “Don’t reckon nobody yanked your chain, Mr. Monopoly.  You got them brakes fixed yet?” 

  Axel hemmed and hawed, but in the end, he admitted he had a lot of work still left to do. 

  When Daryl turned his attention back to T-Dog, his old friend was trying—and failing—to keep a straight face. 

  “Mr. Monopoly?” 

  “Yeah, well.  He shaves that shit off?  He’ll look more like the Planter’s Peanut.” 

  T-Dog guffawed, earning himself more than a couple dirty looks from the source of his endless amusement.  “Missed you ‘round these parts.  Can’t tell you how good it does me to see you back.  Even if I’ve never seen you leave these four walls.  How do you eat, Man?” 

  “Like an uncivilized pig,” Daryl deadpanned. 

  T’s grin stretched wide, but he was otherwise unperturbed.  “You said it.  Not me.”  Putting a few paces between them, he started absently inspecting some nearby tools.  “Little birdy down at the high school been talking.” 

  “Don’t ya mean tweeting?  That’s the big thing now,” Axel said, doing what he does best again.  Inserting himself into a conversation that didn’t involve him in the least.  “Tweeter.” 

  This time, T-Dog and Daryl both ignored him and Daryl was surprised to realize he wanted to hear more.  “Yeah?  What you been hearing?” 

  “Kid’s talented.  Going places if he decides to put in more effort.  If he keeps his nose clean and gives his school work the attention it deserves when classes start…” 

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Daryl muttered.  “I’m trying.  Even if he ain’t.” 

  “Hey, Man.  I get it.  You two?  Ya’ll still getting to know each other.  I can’t imagine what it feels like for either one of you.” 

  Axel couldn’t resist butting in one more time, and Daryl decided fuck it.  He nodded.  Just let him. 

  “Woman showed up on his doorstep and basically said congratulations, it’s a boy.  Your problem now.  Now he’s just as much a daddy as he is an uncle.  Ain’t fair if you ask me.  Got all the responsibility without getting to have any of the fun.” 

  Well, shit.  He hadn’t exactly thought about it in those particular terms, but the twitchy little bastard weren’t exactly wrong.  “Back to work.  Ain’t telling you no more.”  To T-Dog, he simply sighed and raked a tired hand over his unshaven face.  “I’m trying.  I am.” 

  “Kid’s gonna have to meet you halfway.” 

  “Try three quarters.” 

  “Axel!”